The basic concept of offsetting CO2 is: emissions that cannot be avoided in one place are prevented at another. For our environment it does not matter where on earth CO2 is emitted. If a wind park is built in Africa instead of a coal mine, we all benefit. Because climate change does not recognize borders and affects the whole world.
Trading in emissions certificates is an environmental policy tool that aims to reduce emissions while keeping the economic costs as low as possible: emissions are reduced where the cost is lowest. As states and companies can exchange emission rights, the overall costs of meeting the global reduction targets fall.
