Saving the Climate One Carbon Credit at A Time
It is almost customary to find people debating on climate change or brands celebrating days like Earth Day. Yet, the ultimate question hangs over all of us - what personal efforts are we making to curb carbon emissions daily? Every day, you take the bus or ride the train to work. By weekend, you'll drive to the mall for groceries, and during summer, you take a flight somewhere for vacation. All these activities make up your carbon footprints and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions globally.
It is estimated that the global average carbon footprint per person totals up to 4.7 tonnes of CO2. The International Energy Agency (IEA) equates this to driving an SUV for 18months non-stop. The IEA also reports that in 2021, the average North American emitted 11 times more energy-related CO2 than the average African, which means the average carbon footprint varies per country and per individual.
Depending on a person’s income, social status, job, and lifestyle, one is likely to emit more energy-related carbon footprint. While these disparities exist, one cannot throw caution to the wind as the negative impact on the environment are profound.
What does this mean?
Greenhouse gas emissions have a forthright impact on global warming. The more emissions, the higher our carbon footprint, and the greater we erode the natural resources of the earth. To reduce these emissions, we must cultivate climate-friendly habits that will not only reduce greenhouse gases but also improve living conditions.
How Can We Curb Carbon Emissions?
By making changes to our daily activities, one can help to reduce the production of GHG emissions. Altering to your mode of transportation or the kind of food you consume, down to how you dispose of your waste can go a long way in reducing your carbon footprint.
However, there are some GHG-producing activities that we have no control over such as when taking flights. So, how then can we reduce carbon footprints when we engage in these activities? Smart innovations like carbon credits now provide simpler ways to join the climate activism wagon. You can offset your emissions by easily purchasing carbon offset certificates.
ENGIE Energy Access ENGIE Energy Access has partnered with ENGIE Global Energy Management & Sales (GEMS) and CarbonClear to issue and sell data-driven and impactful carbon credits to help promote climate finance within the off-grid sector in sub-Saharan Africa. By certifying the carbon offsets generated from the solar kits distributed to rural and off-grid communities in sub-Saharan Africa, ENGIE Energy Access has created an alternative means of financing its off-grid solar activities across Africa. To ensure the validity of these carbon offset projects, CarbonClear employs its digital model to certify the carbon offset generated from the distribution of solar kits to rural and off-grid communities in sub-Saharan Africa by ENGIE Energy Access. ENGIE GEMS then supports ENGIE Energy Access in selling these credits to organizations or individuals committed to offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions with projects that have significant social and environmental benefits. Funds raised from these sales are then invested in more renewable energy projects in Africa.
By purchasing these carbon certificates as an individual on the CarbonClear platform, you actively contribute to the positive climate impact of the ENGIE Energy Access off-grid energy business.
Whether you make small changes like upgrading your lightbulbs to LEDs or changing your daily means of transportation, you can still be part of the climate activism, and carbon credits offer a novel means of climate financing and reducing carbon footprints we cannot directly control.
