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Are planting a tree and offsetting the same thing?
Fare offsetting signifies offset CO₂ emissions due to a specific activity (for example a production activity, the shipment of a package or any other operation that has an impact on the environment). Planting trees is not always the same as offsetting. On the contrary, there is often a risk of falling into what we at Up2You call TREE-WASHING.
What is it about? thus Like the Green-washing, it's an empty business, a false promise which improves the company's image without actually offsetting CO₂ emissions.
Attention, it does not mean that planting trees necessarily means doing green washing: there are several companies in Italy that offer this type of service on the right terms. The mistake is to pass off planting trees as the definitive solution to reduce a company's emissions and even achieve carbon neutrality.
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What is tree-planting and why it should not be confused with offsetting
'Plant a tree': it is a slogan that is easy, quick to understand and that makes it possible to improve the impact of companies and their productive activities. And it's definitely not a bad thing, quite the contrary. Planting trees will always be good for our planet. The problem is when behind this slogan there are hidden meanings that are not exactly true.
Some companies think that meals plant trees to offset CO₂ emissions caused by production activity and this is an untrue statement, although appealing and easy for users to understand. In reality, tree planting and offsetting (i.e. the exact compensation of the CO₂ emitted for a given operation) are two different activities:
- Plant a tree involves a symbolic gesture, which exploits the user's evocative and emotional power in knowing that the consumption of CO₂ is balanced by a good action.
- Carbon offseting is based on very specific CO₂ measurement units (calculated in kilograms or tons) and is done only with certified projects, created for the sole purpose of capturing CO₂.
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Transparent tree planting: when this activity is really good for the environment
Companies that aim to reduce their carbon footprint should first of all be clear and transparent in their intentions. At stake is the trust that users place in brands that represent values dear to them. So, when a company proposes to Plant trees Or to do offsetting, must clarify in a way transparent their intentions with regard to these activities.
It is not enough to use the slogan 'plant a tree to clean up the company from the CO₂ emissions produced': Not all trees absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide and not all offsetting projects involve planting trees. If you use this system for offsetting, you must follow very specific guidelines:
- it is necessary to consider only the CO₂ already captured (without projecting everything that will be captured during the plant's life);
- additionality must be calculated. For example, fruit trees that have been planted for cultivation cannot be used for offsetting, since they would still be present, regardless of the virtues of the company that plants them;
- it is necessary to monitor the life of the plant constantly, to ensure that the CO₂ collected is always the same. It's not enough to plant a tree and close the project.
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Up2You offsetting projects
Offsetting by planting trees is possible only by complying with the above guidelines, which are necessary requirements, and calculating exactly how much CO₂ must be captured to balance that emitted in production activities. Projects that are created with the objective of offsetting may also involve the activity of planting trees, but they must be certified by international third parties and, in general, they also achieve other sustainable development objectives.
Any examples?
Among the projects that we implement most often are projects Nature-based, which aim to preserve the forests and the biodiversity they host. Among these, the project More REDD+, certificate REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), in which the offsetting activity is intended to protect a portion of the Amazon Forest. This activity makes it possible to capture more than 60 tons of CO₂ per year, through monitoring and caring for the area. Therefore, just planting trees is not enough, but it is necessary to monitor and protect the fauna and flora of an ecosystem torn apart by deforestation.
Another nature based project by Up2You is the Guanaré Forest Plantation Project, which in more than 20,000 hectares of land converts degraded pastures into forest areas, through reforestation activities involving local communities. This makes it possible to improve soil quality, protect biodiversity, improve the local economy and capture CO2.
On the other hand, offsetting activities tech-based are projects that aim at developing technologies aimed at capturing CO₂ or not emitting CO₂. Among the tech-based projects supported by Up2You, an example is certainly Heqing Solar Cooker Project, thanks to which 49,000 solar cookers will be installed for residents, who will then be able to use solar energy to cook food in their daily lives.
These projects are typically referred to as “DAC” (Direct Air Capture). These are part of the carbon removal, a subset of offsetting. This is a specific emission compensation activity that involves the removal (or sequestration) of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
To better understand this concept, we have prepared a chart:
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What we don't like about TREE-WASHING
Ultimately, planting trees is not the problem, on the contrary, we are always in favor of activities that involve the afforestation of our planet. However, let's try to limit the misleading use of the claim 'plant a tree' and its incorrect connection with offsetting activities. This takes place with precise certifications, which ensure a correct balance between CO₂ emissions and the amount that is captured with projects of various types.
These include activities that promote soil reforestation, but also the protection of flora in areas degraded by human intervention, the protection of marine species and projects that improve the quality of life of local populations. In fact, it should be remembered that, even if some activities cannot yet be applied on Italian territory, It is at a global level that carbon offsetting takes on meaning and improves the life of our planet and its inhabitants.
If you want to find out how we can help you become a virtuous company that doesn't just do TREE-WASHING, visit our certified offsetting projects.
Contact us for more information.
