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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I need to take action and reduce carbon emissions?
The global environmental footprint is already 30% above the Earth’s bio-capacity. At the current rate of carbon emissions, the global average temperature will likely rise by 2-3°C by 2035. This is expected to lead to major declines in crop yields, significant water shortages, extinction of 15-40% species, and the permanent displacement of up to 200 million people due to rising sea levels, heavy floods and intense droughts. For more details about the state of the play on climate change see here.
2. I am not familiar with terms such as carbon offsets, voluntary emissions reductions (VER), voluntary carbon standards (VCS) and so on.
Please have a look here at the glossary of carbon finance and climate change terms.
3. Why buy Carbon offsets?
While conservation and the use of reneawble sources of energy have a more effective impact on reducing carbon emissions, most of individuals as well as public of private entities cannot fully eliminate their carbon footprint. Carbon offsets mitigate your contribution to global warming by funding greenhouse gas reductions and balancing out 100% of the emissions you cannot otherwise eliminate. By accepting responsibility for the impact of your decisions and activities on the society and the environment, you also contribute to sustainable development and reinforce public practices of ethical behavior.
4. What is the difference between offsetting and purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs)?
By buying RECs, you support renewable energy projects. But REC projects do not necessarily reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, because they are not required to replace other, polluting energy sources. Offsets, by contrast, are required to do so.
5. How do I know the carbon credits I buy help mitigate my contribution to climate change?
Greenfiniti supports a portfolio of projects of real, measurable, direct reductions of carbon emissions. Each project is screened through a third-party verification process according to ISO 14064 and the WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol, the most authoritative international standards for quantifying and accounting carbon performance. This ensures our portfolio always delivers the expected environmental benefits, especially with respect to conditions of additionality and permanence
6. How do you calculate GHG emissions?
We use internationally accepted methodologies and emission factors for all of our GHG emissions calculations. Our data sources and calculation tools are based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (the most widely used accounting tool for GHG emissions, developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development), the David Suzuki Foundation-Pembina GHG Quantification Tool and GHG data from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). For a a more detailed explanation of our calculation method, see here.
7. How do I know my money is spent for the stated purpose?
Our methodology allows you to see exactly how your money is spent! We provide our clients with full details of the carbon offsetting projects they fund: unique serial numbers, location, name, type, verification standards, quantity of carbon credits, expected environmental benefits.
8. Is my personal information secure?
Absolutely! Our website uses 128-bit encryption SSL certification and Greenfiniti adheres to Canadian data security laws.
9. Can I purchase Greenfiniti offsets if I live outside Canada or Belgium?
Yes! You can purchase Greenfiniti offsets online with your credit card, no matter where you live. There’s only one atmosphere. Global warming is a global problem and to meet this challenge we need all the help we can get.
10. Is Grenfiniti non-profit or for-profit?
Greenfiniti is a for-profit social enterprise, the vision of which is to provide the most trusted, professional and innovative solutions to achieving sustainability. Besides carbon trading, our company is also involved in GHG mitigation consultancy and investment in renewable sources of energy. This is what distinguishes us from other carbon-offsetting or consultancy companies. We approach the challenge of climate change not on a short-term basis or from a single perspective, but as an environmental complex requiring a combination of short-term (carbon offsetting), medium-term (GHG mitigation) and long-term solutions (renewable energy).
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