B2 – Upper Intermediate
Carbon offsetting is a practice that has gained increasing attention in recent years as a means of addressing the issue of climate change. At its core, carbon offsetting involves investing in projects or initiatives that help to reduce or remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere in order to compensate for emissions that cannot be avoided.
The idea behind carbon offsetting is that by investing in projects that reduce carbon emissions, individuals and organizations can offset their own carbon footprints and take responsibility for their impact on the environment.
While the practice of carbon offsetting is not without its controversies and complexities, it is increasingly being seen as a necessary tool for combating climate change and achieving a more sustainable future.
Watch the video to know more about how carbon offsetting can help the planet and be able to answer the questions below.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the idiom “buy one’s way out of (something) ” mean? Ex. Can you really buy your way out of responsibility for creating greenhouse gas emissions which harm the planet? Use it in your own sentence.
- What does the word “carbon offsetting” mean? Ex. Carbon offsetting can play some role in mitigating the immediate impact on the environment. Make a sentence using the word.
- What does “net zero” mean? Ex. The global aim is to reach net zero no later than 2050. Use this term in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What is carbon offsetting and how does it work in the context of corporate sustainability?
- Why do companies choose to engage in carbon offsetting, and what benefits can they expect to achieve?
- What challenges or criticisms have been raised regarding the effectiveness or legitimacy of carbon offsetting programs in the business world?
- How can companies use carbon offsetting as part of a broader sustainability strategy, and what other practices or initiatives should they consider alongside it?