What we do and how it works
What is carbon offsetting?
We all create carbon dioxide, large amounts are generated through using fossil fuels, in travel, power and heating, and through the creation of goods and services that we all use.
Individuals and organizations can choose to 'offset' their emissions by supporting other activities that have either reduced or no emissions.
Whether we agree with carbon offsetting or not - a multi-billion dollar market exists in carbon offsetting and our simple case is that our project is potentially the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial way of offsetting CO2 emissions and, because of the 'compound' nature, becomes more effective over time.
So what is PopOffsets doing?
Funds from PopOffsets are received by the Optimum Population Trust and periodically disbursed to projects providing family planning and related education and women's empowerment programmes. (Disbursement Policy - download pdf). The equal division between poor and rich countries recognizes the greater unmet need in the former, but the greater CO2 emissions from each unwanted birth in the latter.
We have recently agreed funding for two projects – one in the UK and one in Madagascar. Our projects in the 'developing' world seek to address the more dramatic increase in population growth and the wider environmental impacts but we also acknowledge that the carbon emissions per capita in growing economies is relatively low compared to those in industrial nations. One cannot assume, however, that people will continue to live in relative poverty and these growing economies will, inevitably, lead to greater emissions per capita. Like Kofi Annan, we support the "contraction and convergence principle with a population base year" as the basis of climate equity. All poor people rightly aspire to become richer; and the evidence is now conclusive that the lower the rate of population growth, the faster nations develop. All other development programmes, however, are doomed ultimately to fail if human numbers, rich and poor, keep rising indefinitely on our fragile and finite planet. To quote Kofi Annan, "Population stabilization should become a priority for sustainable development".
PopOffsets, does not let developed nations 'off the hook' - we must reduce both our own clearly unsustainable consumption and the number of our own consumers, as well as helping over 200 million poor women in the world, with no access to family planning, to take control of their own fertility".
For more information on our Funding Projects go to Q13 in our Your Questions Answered section
Projects supported by PopOffsets – Case Studies
To look at projects funded to date please download the following case studies.
Brooks Advisory Services
Velondriake Sexual and Reproductive Health Project
Why PopOffsets?
There are many organizations providing carbon offset schemes, some more convincing than others. But offsetting carbon by, for example, contributing towards the building of a hydro-electric dam does not take into account any of the environmental impacts (e.g. on wildlife habitats) associated with the dam. Nor does it address increasing demands for energy due to population growth - and the dam was going to be built anyway, with or without your contribution. The world population increases by almost 1.5 million every week and is forecast by the UN to grow from 6.8 billion in 2009 to over 9 billion in 2050.
PopOffsets is unique –we give you the option of offsetting your carbon footprint by funding family planning and, by doing so, sending a strong message to the climate change decision-makers, that it's time to address the population issue – wisely, democratically and compassionately - if we are to safeguard the planet for future generations. It must stop being the 'elephant in the room' that no-one talks about (to quote OPT patron Jonathan Porritt).
See 'Your Questions Answered' for more >>
How do I offset my carbon?
It’s simple – six steps to offsetting your carbon emissions:
- Click on individual’s obligation
- Either: You determine how much you offset:
- Enter the amount of carbon you wish to offset
- Enter the wording you want on your certificate (or leave blank) (eg. "To offset Summer Holiday 2009")
- Or: Use our calculator to generate the amount for you:
- Enter your country of residence - you will then see your country’s average annual per capita CO2 output (sourced from the United Nations Development Programme www.hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/data/climatechange/).
- Decide for how many people you wish to offset your CO2 emissions
- Decide what percentage of your CO2 emissions that you wish to offset (10-150%)
- Look at the monetary contribution required
- Enter email address to receive your PopOffsets Certificate, or leave blank if you wish
- Proceed to payment