Glossary

What are Certified Emissions Reductions (CER)? July 25, 2016 A Certified Emissions Reduction, also known as CER, is a certificate issued by the United Nations to member nations for preventing one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions. These are usually issued to member states for projects achieving greenhouse gas reductions through the use of Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). CDMs make it possible for these projects to occur and set a baseline for future emission targets. Countries with developed or traditional economies (recognized as Annex 1 under…

What is Carbon Trading? July 25, 2016 Carbon Trading is a market-based system under cap and trade programs that aims to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. In this system, countries with high carbon dioxide emissions can purchase the right to produce more from other nations with lower emissions. In theory, this will help to reduce the overall emissions by adding a price tag to pollution. The use of this system was born out of the Kyoto Protocol. In the early 1990s, all member states of the…

What is a Carbon Sink? July 25, 2016 Carbon Sinks are natural parts of the carbon cycle that absorb carbon from the atmosphere. These sinks are made up of oceans, soils and plants. Plants rely on carbon as a part of a process called photosynthesis and release some of the contained carbon into the ground when they die and decompose. Oceans are significant in carbon storage as carbon is not only needed for marine life but also breaks it down in seawater. Carbon sinks are…

What is Carbon Sequestion? July 25, 2016 Carbon Sequestration is a process where carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere for long term storage in plants, soils, geologic formations, and the ocean also referred to as carbon sinks. This occurs both naturally as a part of the carbon cycle and as a response to the growing amounts of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere that has been leading to climate change. Sequestration has become increasingly popular as carbon dioxide levels increase due to human activities, notably…

What are Carbon Offsets? July 25, 2016 Carbon Offsets are voluntary measures to counter the greenhouse gas emissions that are emitted by a person or entity. This is often in the form of a credit that represents the reductions of one entity to offset the emission of another. These credits are measured in tonnes of carbon equivalents and can include activities such as investing in cleaner forms of energy. One thing to consider when looking into projects to offset emissions would be the quality of…