Carbon offsets are a mechanism that allows organizations to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions. This is done by paying someone else to eliminate an equal amount of emissions on their behalf. In exchange for payment, the organization earns a "carbon credit" that verifies a certain amount of carbon has been removed from the atmosphere. Carbon offsets can take the form of planting trees, investing in renewable energy projects, or helping developing countries reduce their fossil fuel consumption. In theory, offsets make sense because carbon emissions are a global issue, and it doesn't matter where they are reduced.