Festivals Offsetting Emissions
Sound Emissions
Carbon offsetting is the process of measuring your greenhouse gas emissions then compensating for, or ‘offsetting’, your emissions by investing in projects that reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted globally into the atmosphere.
There are a number of carbon offset service providers in Australia who can help offset your unavoidable emissions. These guys will undertake the following steps to offset your emissions:
1. Determine your boundaries - For example if you are undertaking a tour of the East Coast are you going to offset just the band's air travel emissions, or will you include all of the crew emissions as well?
2. Measure emissions - The offset provider will identify the relevant emissions sources and calculate a comprehensive ‘carbon footprint’ using internationally agreed carbon emissions formulas.
3. Retire your calculated emissions - The offset provider will then invest in renewable energy generation or bio-sequestration by buying nationally and internationally recognised carbon credits.
Here are a number of tips you should consider before choosing a carbon offset provider:
• Only buy offsets from offset retailers who provide detailed information about their products and services, and the projects they use to generate offsets. Projects may be in Australia or overseas. Ask for more information if you need it. :
• Choose retailers that help you estimate your carbon footprint and explain how the footprint is calculated.
• Choose offsets that are independently accredited by a recognised scheme or standard such as offsets accredited under the international Gold Standard and Clean Development Mechanism. Offsets accredited by VCS, VER+ and Greenhouse Friendly are also of a very high quality.
• Choose offset projects that change or prevent the underlying activities that create greenhouse gases. These are best for combating climate change in the long-term. Such projects include those that:
- improve energy efficiency
- increase renewable energy
- prevent waste going to landfill
- protect existing forests.
- Get documentary evidence of your offset purchase.
Finally, you might also like to consider providing audience members with the option of offsetting their travel emissions or average daily emissions associated with travelling to and from your show.
Many offset service providers and ticketing outlets are able to accommodate such a powerful carbon offset initiative.