BEFORE THERE WERE CONSERVATION CREDITS, THERE WERE CARBON OFFSETS.
Decades ago, carbon offset programs began popping up across the country and world as a way to counteract the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The principle was simple: for every carbon-emitting practice, an organization or individual would reinvest funds that would be allocated by a third party to carbon-reducing practices — primarily planting trees. With climate change on the rise, it’s becoming more and more vital that we mitigate our carbon footprint and intentionally reinvest in the environment.
As leaders in the conservation space, we at the Great Outdoors Foundation realized that there was a need locally to provide such a service. Our supporters are proactive and conscientious in nature, and they prioritize sustainable conservation practices in their daily lives.
While traditional carbon offset programs are effective and necessary, they are often complex in their pricing structure, reporting method and implementation process, and they’re almost never local for participants.
Our goal in developing the Conservation Credit program is to provide a direct to consumer method that makes altering your carbon footprint possible when altering your behavior is not.
When you purchase Conservation Credits from the Great Outdoors Foundation, you can invest with confidence. We’ve developed the program with you — the everyday Iowan — in mind.
- It’s simple: we’ve done all of the calculating for you.
- It’s verified: we partner with trustworthy names in the conservation world.
- It’s local: all of your dollars are reinvested, right here in the community.
Our three-pronged approach takes carbon offset standards and applies them across other conservation avenues, including water quality and pollinator habitats. Whichever project you decide to allocate your credits to, you can rest easy knowing that you’re improving the environment and counteracting your everyday habits.
With Conservation Credits from the Great Outdoors Foundation, you can leave an impact, not your footprint.
Hannah Inman
CEO, Great Outdoors Foundation
Crane Meadows
Fourmile Creek Greenway
Easter Lake Park
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- How do carbon offsets work? // The Washington Post
- What is carbon offsetting? // World Economic Forum
- Carbon Offsets // MIT Climate Forum
- Carbon Footprint Calculator // United States Environmental Protection Agency
- What you need to know about carbon footprints // CNN
- The 35 Easiest Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint // Columbia Climate School
- How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint // New York Times
- 50 Tips to Cut Down Your Carbon Footprint // Global Giving
OUR PARTNERS
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor of the Great Outdoors Foundation Conservation Credit Program, please email Jen Cross at jen@greatoutdoorsfoundation.org.
