The best way to take climate action is to reduce our carbon emissions and then offset any residual emissions to become carbon neutral.
We have proven our commitment to climate action by going carbon neutral. This means we have reduced our emissions as much as possible and then invested in projects that reduce or remove emissions from the atmosphere (carbon-offsetting). Overall our emissions equal zero or are ‘neutral’.
Carbon emissions come from energy, water, waste, transport, food and beverage consumption and the materials or products you use to run a business.
There are more of us now than ever before, emitting more greenhouse gases than our atmosphere can handle, so it’s important we all make some simple and achievable changes to reduce our emissions.
Check out our tips to reduce your emissions by improving energy efficiency, reducing waste to landfill and choosing more sustainable transport options.
Whether you are an organisation or an individual trying to reduce your carbon emissions, one of the most affordable ways is to work with organisations that are carbon neutral or to purchase products and services that are carbon neutral.
Carbon offsetting is an internationally recognised way for organisations to manage the carbon emissions that cannot be eliminated entirely and become carbon neutral, by investing in other projects that reduce or remove emissions.
We invest in climate action projects in Australia and around the world that are providing economic, social and environmental benefits to communities, as well as reducing emissions.
Savannah Burning, Australia
- Offset credits are purchased.
- Project funding received in Australia
- Planned burning off is conducted in the early stages of the dry season.
- Avoid emissions associated with high intensity grass fires.
Co-benefits:
- Promoting capacity, skills development and employment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Promoting Indigenous cultural values.
- Diversification of revenue streams in remote communities.
- Improved habitat value and biodiversity.
Clean and efficient cook stoves, China
- Offset credits are purchased.
- Project funding received in China.
- Introduce cooking stoves that utilise 100 per cent renewable fuel source.
- Reduce coal consumption when purifying water.
Co-benefits:
- Improved human health.
- Reduced air pollution.
- Reduced labour for daily household needs.
- Improved biodiversity due to reduced harvesting of natural resources.
More information
Carbon neutral certification provides assurance that an organisation is measuring their emissions, reducing them and offsetting any residual emissions.
The Australian Government’s carbon neutral certification is the most rigorous and credible carbon neutral certification available, for:
- organisationsOpens in new tab
- eventsOpens in new tab
- products and servicesOpens in new tab
- precincts
- buildings
To obtain certification, emissions need to be independently audited, publicly reported and eligible offsets retired on a public offset register.
This ensures that any money spent on offset projects is going to credible projects that are reducing emissions. Offset projects usually improve other social, economic and environmental outcomes for local communities, called co-benefits.
