By
Grace Smoot

One way to reduce human-derived atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is via carbon capture and storage (CCS), or the capture and storage of carbon in various reservoirs. So, we had to ask: What are carbon capture and storage offsets really, and could they help us mitigate climate change?

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offsets are a type of carbon offset that stores CO₂ in our carbon sinks (forests, oceans, geological formations). CCS projects reduce CO₂ emissions by supporting projects that reinforce our carbon sinks, which absorb massive amounts of our emissions every year.

Keep reading to find out all about what CCS offsets are, how they work, how effective and efficient they are, what their pros and cons are, and what the best ones are. At the end of the article, we’ll also share with you how CCS offsets can help mitigate climate change and what better alternatives to them are. 

The Big Picture of Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

Carbon offsets are reductions in carbon emissions that are used to compensate for carbon emissions occurring elsewhere. They are measured in tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalents and are bought and sold through international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms on what is known as the global carbon offset market. 

“Carbon Offset: a way for a company or person to reduce the level of carbon dioxide for which they are responsible by paying money to a company that works to reduce the total amount produced in the world, for example by reforestation”

Oxford Dictionary

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the combination of two processes, CO₂ capture and long-term CO₂ storage in various reservoirs to minimize its effect on the atmosphere.

“Carbon Capture and Storage: the process of trapping carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels or other chemical or biological processes and storing it in such a way that it is unable to affect the atmosphere, with the aim of mitigating the effects of global warming.” 

Oxford Languages

CCS is also commonly referred to as carbon sequestration because carbon sequestration is the next step after CO₂ has been captured.

What are carbon capture and storage offsets	Carbon capture and storage offsets are a specific type of carbon offset that focuses on removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in plants, soils, geologic formations, and the ocean.
How do carbon capture and storage offsets work	Carbon capture and storage projects reduce CO2 emissions by supporting projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere and reinforce our forest and marine carbon sinks, which are capable of absorbing massive amounts of our emissions.
How effective and efficient are carbon capture and storage offsets	Effectiveness: Depending on the type of capture and storage, carbon capture and storage offsets can permanently and quickly remove carbon from the atmosphere while reinforcing our carbon sinks. However, they also do not reduce your own carbon emissions, which can lead to greenwashing. Efficiency: Depending on the type of capture and storage, carbon capture and storage offsets can be cost-effective, avoid carbon emissions after their project lifespan, and have low rates of carbon re-emission. However, they also may also lack permanence, and may not yet be scaled to compensate for our global emissions.
What are the 6 pros of carbon capture and storage offsets	1. Carbon capture and storage offsets can be permanent 2. Carbon capture and storage offsets can reduce CO2 emissions quickly 3. Carbon capture and storage offsets can be cost-effective 4. Carbon capture and storage offsets can reinforce our carbon sinks 5. Carbon capture and storage offsets can have low rates of carbon re-emission 6. Carbon capture and storage offsets allow us to reduce carbon emissions in ways we wouldn’t be able to accomplish individually
What are the 6 cons of carbon capture and storage offsets	1. Carbon capture and storage offsets can lack permanence 2. Carbon capture and storage offsets can be relatively expensive  3. Carbon capture and storage offsets may not yet be scaled to compensate for our global emissions 4. Carbon capture and storage offsets can negatively alter ecosystems 5. Carbon capture and storage offsets can be difficult to standardize, verify, and monitor 6. Carbon capture and storage offsets do not reduce your own carbon emissions
What are the best carbon capture and storage offsets	The best carbon capture and storage offsets are offered by Climeworks, The Arbor Day Foundation, REDD.plus, and SeaTrees which involve reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, blue carbon, carbon mineralization, and direct carbon/air capture.
How can carbon capture and storage offsets help mitigate climate change	Carbon capture and storage can specifically help mitigate climate change because it eliminates atmospheric carbon, which when emitted, can remain in our atmosphere for a long period of time.

What Are Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the combination of two processes, CO₂ capture and long-term CO₂ storage in various reservoirs to minimize its effect on the atmosphere.

“Carbon Capture and Storage: the process of trapping carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels or other chemical or biological processes and storing it in such a way that it is unable to affect the atmosphere, with the aim of mitigating the effects of global warming.” 

Oxford Languages

Some of the most common CCS offset projects include:

• Direct Carbon/Air Capture
• Reforestation
• Afforestation
• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)
• Blue Carbon
• Carbon Mineralization
• Agriculture

How Do Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets Work

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects reduce CO₂ emissions by supporting projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere and reinforce our forest and marine carbon sinks, which are capable of absorbing massive amounts of our emissions. 

CCS can occur via two main methods:

• Artificial methods: The result of carbon capture. The captured carbon is compressed into a liquid and transported via pipeline, ship, or tanker before being pumped deep underground, often at depths of 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), and sequestered in depleted oil reserves, coalbeds, or saline aquifers. 

• Biological methods: Carbon storage in vegetation (forests), soils, and oceans, which are commonly referred to as our carbon sinks. 

Trees and underground geological reservoirs are among the most common capture and storage places. Storing carbon in those places is one way to mitigate the adverse effects of CO₂ emissions that occur once they enter our atmosphere.

How Effective and Efficient Are Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

In terms of effectiveness, carbon capture and storage (CCS) offsets can permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere, can remove emissions quickly, and can reinforce our carbon sinks, depending on the type of capture and storage. However, they do not reduce your own carbon emissions, which can lead to greenwashing.

In terms of efficiency, CCS offsets can be cost-effective, can continue to avoid carbon emissions after their project lifespan, and have low rates of carbon re-emission, depending on the type of capture and storage. However, they may also lack permanence, and may not yet be scaled to compensate for our global emissions. 

CCS offsets are effective at mitigating climate change because:

• Direct carbon/air capture (DCC/DAC), carbon mineralization, and biochar offsets remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it permanently in underground geological reservoirs. 
• DCC/DAC, carbon mineralization, REDD+, and some blue carbon and agricultural offsets reduce emissions quicker than other nature-based solutions.
• Nature-based solutions such as reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, blue carbon, and agroforestry store carbon in forests, soils, and oceans, commonly called our carbon sinks. 

However, CCS offsets can also lack effectiveness because they do not reduce your own carbon emissions, which can lead to greenwashing. This occurs when emissions are only offset and not reduced from the source, and the consumer is deceived into thinking they are offsetting their emissions but in reality, they are not.

CCS offsets are efficient at reducing CO₂ emissions because:

• Reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, blue carbon, and agricultural offsets are some of the most cost-effective methods of carbon emission reduction, averaging less than $50 per ton of CO₂ offset. 
• Trees continue absorbing carbon long after they mature, which means reforestation, afforestation, and mangrove blue carbon projects can continue to reduce carbon emissions long after the trees have been planted.
• DCC/DAC offsets can have low rates of carbon re-emission when plants are operated by low-carbon electricity. And carbon mineralization offsets store carbon permanently, even if rocks are broken.

However, CCS offsets can also lack efficiency because:

• Nature-based CCS solutions such as reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, blue carbon, and agroforestry can lack permanence because carbon storage is reversible. 
• DCC/DAC, carbon mineralization, blue carbon, and agricultural offsets are not scaled enough to keep pace with our global carbon emissions due to a lack of technology and few companies engaged in the practices. 

What Are The 6 Pros and 6 Cons of Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offsets can be permanent, immediate, cost-effective, have low rates of carbon re-emission, and reinforce our carbon sinks depending on the specific type of offset. They also allow us to reduce carbon emissions in ways we wouldn’t be able to accomplish individually.

However, CCS offsets can lack permanence, can be relatively expensive, may not be scaled to compensate for our global emissions, can negatively alter ecosystems, and can be difficult to standardize, verify, and monitor, depending on the specific type of offset. They also do not reduce your own carbon emissions, which can lead to greenwashing.

What Are the 6 Pros of Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

CCS offsets have various pros that make them effective at reducing carbon emissions.

6 Pros of Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets	Quick Facts
#1: Carbon capture and storage offsets can be permanent	Direct carbon/air capture (DCC/DAC) and carbon mineralization offsets permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere
#2: Carbon capture and storage offsets can reduce CO2 emissions quickly	DCC/DAC, carbon mineralization, REDD+, and some blue carbon offsets reduce emissions quicker than other nature-based solutions.
#3: Carbon capture and storage offsets can be cost-effective	Reforestation, afforestation, REDD+ and blue carbon offsets are some of the most cost-effective methods of carbon emission reduction.
#4: Carbon capture and storage offsets can reinforce our carbon sinks	Reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, and blue carbon offsets reinforce our terrestrial and marine carbon sinks, which are capable of absorbing billions of tons of CO2 every year.
#5: Carbon capture and storage offsets can have low rates of carbon re-emission	DCC/DAC and carbon mineralization processes have a low rate of carbon re-emission, making them effective at removing carbon.
#6: Carbon capture and storage offsets allow us to reduce carbon emissions in ways we wouldn’t be able to accomplish individually	Carbon capture and storage offsets allow us to reduce emissions from activities where sustainable alternatives are not yet widely available.

What Are the 6 Cons of Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

Understanding the drawbacks of CCS offsets is important in order to effectively mitigate climate change.

6 Cons of Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets	Quick Facts
#1: Carbon capture and storage offsets can lack permanence	Reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, and blue carbon offsets can lack permanence because they are reversible, nature-based solutions.
#2: Carbon capture and storage offsets can be relatively expensive	DCC/DAC and carbon mineralization are some of the more expensive methods of carbon removal. With further research, development, and funding, this could decrease in coming years.
#3: Carbon capture and storage offsets may not yet be scaled to compensate for our global emissions	DCC/DAC, carbon mineralization, and blue carbon offsets are not yet scaled to keep pace with our global carbon emissions due to various technological and financial barriers.
#4: Carbon capture and storage offsets can negatively alter ecosystems	Afforestation and carbon mineralization offsets can negatively alter ecosystems if projects are not planned and sited properly.
#5: Carbon capture and storage offsets can be difficult to standardize, verify, and monitor	Blue carbon and agricultural carbon offsets can be difficult to standardize, verify, and monitor because there are different methodologies for assessing them.
#6: Carbon capture and storage offsets do not reduce your own carbon emissions	If emissions are only offset and not reduced from the source, this could lead to greenwashing, when the consumer is deceived into thinking they are offsetting their emissions but in reality, they are not.

How Could You Offset Your Own Carbon Footprint With Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets

The market for carbon offsets was small in the year 2000, but by 2010 it had already grown to represent nearly $10 billion worldwide. The voluntary carbon offset market (VCM) is where everyday consumers can purchase carbon offsets to offset their carbon emissions. 

The Ecosystem Marketplace predicts the VCM can grow to $50B by the year 2050. And because CCS offsets can be effective and efficient at reducing carbon emissions, they are predicted to make up an increasingly larger share of this market.

Carbon Capture and Storage Offset Company	Quick Facts
Climeworks	About: Carbon offset purchases support the practice of direct CO2 removal, where specialized machines remove CO2 directly from the air and store it in rock formations underground. Costs: $1.20 per 1kg of CO2
The Arbor Day Foundation	About: Carbon offset purchases support afforestation (and reforestation) projects in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (US), Nicaragua, and Peru. Costs: $40 per 1,000kg of CO2
REDD.plus	About: Carbon offset purchases support UNFCCC-verified REDD+ projects around the globe. REDD.plus is a central registry and exchange for REDD+ Result Units, a type of carbon credit.  Costs: $16 per ton of CO2
SeaTrees	About: Carbon offset purchases support coral reef/kelp forest/watershed restoration as well as mangrove tree planting. Costs: $22 per 1,000kg of CO2
Husk	About: Husk converts rice husks into biochar, fertilizers, and biopesticides via smokeless pyrolysis, preventing the re-emission of carbon into the atmosphere.  Costs: Husk uses resellers to sell its solutions. Visit Patch’s website to learn more about pricing.
Novocarbo	About: Novocarbo uses pyrogenic carbon capture and storage, which converts CO2 into regenerative energy and biochar. The biochar can be used as soil, as a replacement for cement, and in regenerative agriculture. Costs: Novocarbo uses resellers (e.g., Puro.earth and Carbonfuture), costs are determined with these.
Ecologi	About: Carbon offset purchases support third-party certified reforestation/afforestation carbon offset projects including those in Madagascar, Mozambique, Bolivia, Morocco, Senegal, and Uruguay. Costs: $6.04 per 1,000 kg of CO2 offset
One Tree Planted	About: Carbon offset purchases support reforestation/afforestation projects including those in the US, Romania, Iceland, and Africa. Costs: $20 per 1,000kg of CO2
The Ocean Foundation	About: Carbon offset purchases support the SeaGrass Grow, seagrass planting project. Costs: $20 per 1,000kg of CO2
Wildlife Works	About: Carbon offset purchases support third-party certified carbon offset projects including The Kasigau Corridor, Mai Ndombe, and Southern Cardamom REDD+ projects in Kenya, Cambodia, and Colombia respectively. Costs: $20 per ton of CO2
Neustark	About: Neustark removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it in recycled concrete, and they cut new CO2 emissions by reducing the use of traditional cement. Costs: Costs are determined after initial contact.
greenSand	About: greenSand uses Olivine rocks, which trap CO2 when they come into contact with water. For every ton of CO2 purchased, greenSand spreads 1 ton of Olivine, which can in turn absorb and permanently store 1 ton of CO2. Costs: $82 per 1,000kg of CO2
Vi Agroforestry	About: Vi Agroforestry specializes in poverty reduction and environmental improvement through agroforestry and improved farming practices.  Costs: $28 per 1,000kg of CO2 offset
Terrapass	About: Carbon offset purchases support the reforestation, afforestation, and REDD+ projects in Peru, Canada, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the US. Costs: $16.51-$17.63 per 1,000kg of CO2

How Can Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets Help Mitigate Climate Change

Climate change is a severe and long-term consequence of fossil fuel combustion. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offsets can help mitigate climate change because they eliminate fossil-fuel-derived carbon from our atmosphere which, if left untreated, can remain there for tens of thousands of years and exacerbate the negative effects of climate change.

How is Climate Change Defined

Climate change is arguably the most severe, long-term global impact of fossil fuel combustion. Every year, approximately 33 billion tons (bt) of CO₂ are emitted from burning fossil fuels. The carbon found in fossil fuels reacts with oxygen in the air to produce CO₂. 

“Climate change: changes in the earth’s weather, including changes in temperature, wind patterns and rainfall, especially the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gasses, especially carbon dioxide.”

Oxford Dictionary

Atmospheric CO₂ fuels climate change, which results in global warming. When CO₂ and other air pollutants absorb sunlight and solar radiation in the atmosphere, it traps the heat and acts as an insulator for the planet. Since the Industrial Revolution, Earth’s temperature has risen a little more than 1 degree Celsius (C), or 2 degrees Fahrenheit (F). Between 1880-1980 the global temperature rose by 0.07C every 10 years. This rate has more than doubled since 1981, with a current global annual temperature rise of 0.18C, or 0.32F, for every 10 years. 

As outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, we must cut current GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. 

How Do Carbon Offsets Generally Help Mitigate Climate Change

Levels of carbon in our atmosphere that cause climate change have increased due to human emissions since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. The global average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today registers at over 400 parts per million. Carbon offsets can help prevent these levels from increasing even more.

When you hear the words “carbon offset”, think about the term “compensation”. Essentially, carbon offsets are reductions in GHG emissions that are used to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere. 

Carbon offsets that meet key criteria and verified project standards, are additional and permanent, and are a part of projects that are carried out until the end of their lifespan have the best chance of reducing carbon emissions and therefore reducing climate change. 

When we offset CO₂ we also slow the rate of global temperature rise, which in turn minimizes the effects of climate change. 

How Do Carbon Capture and Storage Offsets Specifically Help Mitigate Climate Change

Carbon capture and storage in general can specifically help mitigate climate change because it eliminates atmospheric carbon, which when emitted, can remain in our atmosphere for a long period of time. 

Reforestation, afforestation, and REDD+ offsets specifically help mitigate climate change because they plant more trees, and trees remove CO₂ from the air as they grow. By increasing the number of trees on our planet, we increase the amount of carbon they are capable of storing. The more carbon our forests can absorb, the less carbon there is in our atmosphere. 

Blue carbon offsets specifically help mitigate climate change because they protect coastal and marine ecosystems, which are capable of absorbing more CO₂ per acre than rainforests and at a rate 10x greater. 

Direct carbon/air capture and carbon mineralization offsets specifically help mitigate climate change because these methods permanently lock away CO₂ for thousands of years with little to no re-emission.

Agricultural carbon offsets such as biochar, agroforestry, avoided grassland conversion, and CH₄ capture can specifically help mitigate climate change because they reduce CO₂ and CH₄ emissions in one of the biggest industries worldwide.

Final Thoughts

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offsets help reduce carbon emissions by taking captured/removed carbon and storing it in terrestrial, marine, and underground reservoirs. Their effectiveness and efficiency highly depend on the type of CCS. 

Direct carbon/air capture and carbon mineralization offsets permanently remove CO₂ quickly with low rates of carbon re-emission. Reforestation, afforestation, REDD+, and blue carbon offsets reinforce our carbon sinks, reduce emissions after project lifespans, and are cost-effective. 

The top CCS offsets are those offered by companies whose CCS projects are verified by recognized standards. But although carbon offsets can instigate meaningful change, they should not be seen as the only solution to climate change. In the long term, they fail to reduce CO₂ enough to mitigate climate change for future generations. 

When used in conjunction with direct CO₂ reduction measures, carbon offsets can be much more effective. We should reduce our own carbon footprint as much as possible first, and only then choose CCS offsets.

Stay impactful,

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