TYPES OF OFFSETS

What Is The Difference Between Purchasing Carbon Credits & Purchasing Native Trees?

 

There are two common offsets in New Zealand:

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1. Voluntary carbon offsets through native trees

2. Carbon credits through the emissions trading scheme.

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Research & recent news clearly shows the negative effects of pine plantations for our biodiversity and environment therefore Carbon Positive offers offsetting with native trees.

By offsetting through voluntary native tree planting programs, you are supporting not only our biodiversity but also our local communities.

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Voluntary Carbon Offsets Through Native Trees

Native trees are planted in New Zealand by an independent provider in a permanent forest, using calculations from government emissions data. Offset calculations are based on 100% native trees (no shrubs) that must be able to reach a minimum height of 5m, with sequestration measured for the first 50 years of growth. Research of New Zealand sequestration shows that 2.3 native trees can sequester a Tonne of CO2e emissions over the first 50 years. Growth rates then slow after 50 years with trees that breakdown being replaced by the regrowth in the same forest. Tree growth rates vary across regional sites according to temperature, soil, site quality, rainfall, types of trees planted, and the management of the planting process. To mitigate variables we only calculate emissions based on the first 50 years of tree growth. The additional growth rates after year 50 are used as margin for variables/losses. Our native trees are grown at the planting site & planted by volunteers, which helps prevent emission leakage. Our trees are additional grown from seedlings according to our funding demand and are planted in locations that are not already counted by other offsets

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Our offsets are a custom tailored & independently audited offset programme in partnership with CVNZ, following the Ministry for the Environment voluntary offset guidance which includes the following criteria.

1. Information on the mitigation must be transparent, clearly
stated, and publicly available;
2. Mitigation must be real, measurable and verified; 
3. Mitigation must be additional to business-as-usual activity; 
4. Mitigation must not be double used;  
5. Mitigation must not result in leakage of emissions elsewhere;
6. Mitigation must be permanent.

 

Carbon Credits Through The Government's Emission Trading Scheme

Carbon Credits are purchased through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Unfortunately the majority of carbon credits are created from exotic pine plantations. 

If your industry does not fall into the ETS obligated criteria then you can choose how you voluntarily offset your carbon emissions through one of our approved native tree projects. Some New Zealand industries are obligated to file returns and purchase from the ETS rather than purchase native trees. More can be found about which industries are obligated emitters at

https://www.epa.govt.nz/industry-areas/emissions-trading-scheme/industries-in-the-emissions-trading-scheme/