Purchasing carbon offsets is a way to compensate for your emissions by supporting projects that are drawing down emissions in one of two ways:
Carbon offset projects avoid emissions by replacing fossil fuel energy or preventing natural carbon sinks (like forests) from being destroyed.
Other projects absorb emissions by preserving or expanding natural carbon sinks, or by using technology to remove emissions directly from the atmosphere.
How purchasing offsets works
A climate project works to tackle carbon emissions with efforts like reforestation, soil restoration, or direct air capture. A credit is created for every metric ton of emissions (1,000 kg CO2e) they avoid or absorb.
These carbon credits become offsets when a person or organization purchases them to compensate for their emissions. Offsets should only be purchased once, then retired.