cut your carbon footprint with ethical carbon offsetting.

We are the last generation with the power to combat climate change. GenZero is a new carbon offsetting product from CARE International that makes it easy for  you to play your part by going carbon neutral. It is a monthly subscription allowing you or your family to offset your unavoidable carbon emissions. Unlike other offsetting products, the carbon offsets are generated by programmes that have the added benefit of helping to save lives and livelihoods around the world.

In simplified terms, a carbon credit can be generated when an action is taken  that has a net-positive impact on the environment. It is possible to quantify that net-positivity of that action into a unit – a carbon ton. Essentially the amount of  CO2 tonnage not released into the atmosphere because of the action. One credit equals 1 ton of CO2.

Once a credit is purchased it cannot be purchased by anyone else, the credit is formally retired.

When you pay to offset your emissions, you fund work that may plant trees or  prevent fossil fuels being used for cooking. This net-positive action for the planet is the 'offset' against your own emissions.

The projects CARE International funds to generate credits have the added benefit of changing and even saving lives. Providing fuel efficient cookstoves, for example, prevents trees being cut for fuel, prevents that wood being burned and it's carbon released, and prevents exposure to smoke for the family.

Not all carbon offsetting is created equal but the credits available on GenZero are generated by Gold Standard Accredited projects. This means that there is a meaningful long-lasting benefit for the planet that would not have happened otherwise. The projects that generate GenZero credits not only have a net- positive impact on the environment, they also must have an additional positive social impacts such as improving health or creating jobs. 

All profits generated by GenZero Carbon Offsetting are used to grow the GenZero programme and support CARE International’s global work fighting  poverty and defending dignity.

Carbon Offsetting is just one tool in the fight to reduce emissions and the impact of climate change. GenZero strongly advocates for organisations, groups and  individual people to change their actions to reduce their carbon footprint.  However, reducing a carbon footprint takes time and becoming completely  carbon-neutral may be impossible for many, so we believe that there is a role for ethical carbon offsetting of unavoidable emissions.

‘Avoidable emissions’ is how we describe the part of our carbon footprint that is  within our control. By making changes to our lifestyles, we can all reduce our  avoidable emissions. GenZero does not provide a means to avoid doing the hard  work of reducing our carbon footprint. This is why we only offset unavoidable  emissions.