Offset my GHG emissions

Through the acquisition of the government’s emissions units.

The principle

Force large emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions

Rights to emit GHG (emissions allowances)
The government manages a part of the carbon market called CATS (Cap-And-Trade-System). As part of the CATS, the government forces manufacturing industries considered as “large GHG emitters” as well as hydrocarbon distributors to possess emissions allowances for emitting GHGs. The government of Quebec limits the number of emissions allowances available on the carbon market (a little bit like a quota), so that the large emitters could not simply pay for emissions allowances, but would also be forced to reduce their emissions to demonstrate compliance with the law.
Using emissions allowances to reach the governments GHG reduction targets.
To limit GHG emissions, the government doesn’t only limit the number of available emissions allowances, but it reduces them each year. Less available allowances means less permission to emit GHGs. This is a powerful tool to reach the GHG reduction targets that Quebec set for itself.
Accelerate GHG reduction by participating in the carbon market
Coop Carbone participates in the carbon market by buying emissions allowances that could have been used by large emitters. By making large emitters have access to less and less emissions allowances, it obligates them to further reduce their global GHG emissions.

Reducing the large emitters' GHG

My contribution: a triple and immediate impact

By compensating my personal emissions, Coop Carbone transforms my contribution into a global impact.

Coop Carbone allows me to buy credits that would have been used by large emitters and hydrocarbon distributors to allow them to amit more GHG. Thus, I directly withdraw emissions allowances from them through my individual action.
All the profits that Coop Carbone generates from the trade of GHG allowances are reinvested in collective projects. These projects are located in different regions throughout Quebec and all aim to reduce GHG emissions. For example, Coop Carbone works to build an collective biomethanisation sector for agricultural producers as well as shared mobility projects and heat networks bringing together many users in urbans settings.
Part of my money is recovered by the government to contribute to the Electrification and Climate Change Fund to support businesses, municipalities and individuals in reducing GHG emissions as well as adapt to the impacts of climate change. Thus, I them to directly pursue the transition towards an economy that is stronger, more innovative, and carbon-lean.

Our carbon footprint

What can we offset

Those engaging themselves in a personal initiative to reduce their GHG emissions can take inspiration from the best practices for measuring, reducing and offsetting

First, what is carbon offsetting? It is – no more and no less – trying to counteract one’s own CO2 emissions.

If you don’t have the opportunity to reduce your GHG emissions or if you are planning an activity with strong emissions (such as taking the plane), you can undertake offsetting. This offsetting can be done in three different ways:

What Coop Carbone suggests: by buying an emissions unit
By financing projects that reduce other emissions
By acquiring offset credits by an organisation that has reduced the equivalent of your GHG emissions (by planting trees for example)

To calculate your emissions, you should mainly consider these two factors:

Your travels
You should consider the emissions tied to your travels depending on the different moded of transportation that you use (car, motorcycles, trucks, aerial transport, etc)

Your energy consumption
The equation is simple: 1 emissions allowance unit = 1 metric ton of CO2

Once you have calculated your emissions, you can then offset them and reduce your carbon footprint.

Share your carbon offsetting

Multiply your efforts to reduce GHG

Compensate your emissions and automatically receive our badge “Proud to have offset in Quebec”.
By sharing the badge, you can demonstrate that you directly participate to the fight against climate change to the benefit of Quebec’s communities, as well as support our solidarity cooperative.
Through a simple share on social media, you support our mission and most of all, you raise awareness from within your social and professionnal networks, on the importance of acting now to limit the rise in temperatures and its negative effects on the environment.

An offsetting certificate will also be sent to you as testimony that you acquired emissions allowances from Quebec’s Cap-And-Trade System (CATS)