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carbon offset

British  

noun

    1. a compensatory measure made by an individual or company for carbon emissions, usually through sponsoring activities or projects which increase carbon dioxide absorption, such as tree planting

    2. ( as modifier )

      a carbon-offset scheme

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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"On average, each club saves around £3,000 and offsets 3.3 tonnes of carbon, totalling an estimated annual carbon offset of over 840 tonnes, with an estimated energy saving of around £840,000 for all clubs combined".

From BBC Apr. 28, 2026

Most estimates suggest that afforestation is the “cheapest” means of offsetting carbon emissions — the international Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates it will cost more than $14 per ton of carbon offset.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 19, 2025

But carbon offset projects have a poor record, and examples of their failures abound.

From Salon Jul. 18, 2024

Over the last decade, as demand for carbon offset programs has skyrocketed.

From Science Daily May 20, 2024

A carbon offset is a credit that you can buy to make up for your emissions.

From New York Times May 6, 2024

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