Offsetting

Compensation means: a certain amount of greenhouse gases is emitted in some place. But in a climate protection project somewhere else emissions with at least the same climate efficiency are avoided. In total, the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide stay the same – the gases emitted are “offset”.
The principle of compensation works because it does not matter for the climate itself where greenhouse gases are emitted or saved. The concentration of climate-efficient gases altogether in the atmosphere is decisive. That separates climate change from other more localized environmental problems like water or air pollution.
But: to offset occurring emissions contributes to climate protection, though it does not suffice. A massive reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions is necessary. Be part of it! Klima-Kollekte guaranties to use the amount you pay for your emissions’ compensation to offset the amount of CO₂ within the scope of climate protection projects. Thanks to strict standards, the projects not only reduce the emission of greenhouse gases but they improve the local population’s quality of life and contribute to development on-site.

Calculate and offset your unavoidable emissions!

Offsetting for Individuals

Whether it's air travel on vacation or annual electricity consumption - our daily consumer behavior causes CO₂. You can easily determine your CO₂ emissions with our calculator and then pay online via PayPal, credit card and instant bank transfer or by invoice. With your own usage account you keep track of your emissions and offsets. For your CO₂ offsetting, we will provide you with a certificate of CO₂ emissions offsetting as well as a donation receipt, because your climate protection contribution is tax-deductible as a donation.

What does offsetting cost?

The price for offsetting a ton of CO₂ results from the costs arising from saving the emissions elsewhere.
With the money you provide to the Klima-Kollekte for offsetting, we finance, among other things, the additional costs incurred when fossil energy sources are replaced by renewable energy sources.
The cost and therefore the price of a ton of CO₂ depends on the size of the project, the technology used and the country in which the project is implemented. For example, saving one ton of CO2 by installing biogas plants in India has a different cost than a solar thermal project in the Czech Republic or introducing energy-efficient stoves in South Africa. Large projects generally have a lower cost per ton than smaller ones.
Prices vary depending on the project. To calculate a different price for each offset payment would be too complicated. For this reason, Klima-Kollekte calculates an average price of €25.00 per ton including administrative costs.

How offsetting works

Development of voluntary carbon markets

The development of the voluntary carbon markets from the Kyoto-Protocol to the Paris Agreement is of interest for Klima-Kollekte as an offset fund operating on this market. In the following we want to elaborate the current status. It is important to note that, the final development not foreseeable is at this point.

The Kyoto Protocol required only developed countries to reduce emissions, while under the Paris Agreement all country committed to reduce GHG emission. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allowed countries of the Global North to claim credits for emission reductions achieved through investments in countries of the Global South. As of the end of 2021, the offsett scheme ended.

At the 2021 Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Nations reached an new agreement (Article 6) for market mechanisms, which succeeded the CDM mechanism. This agreement influences also voluntary offset markets. Emission reductions generatred by climate protection projects in one country and then transferred to another can now be counted towards the national climate protection target of the target country. Project countries have to carry out so-called corresponding adjustments (CA), meaning the country has to decuct the sold emission reductions from its own emission footprint. Therefore the sold emission reductions are only counted by one country and double counting is avoided. The requirement for the transmission of the emission reductions is the authorisation of the project country.

Questions on compensation

"What share of the revenue flows into the project work?"

Pricing structure change of one tone CO2. 25 Euro per certificate, 20 Euro flow into our projects, 3 Euro into project support, consultation, advertising and administration, 1 Euro into the education fund and 1 Euro into the future fond of the Klima-Kollekte.

Pricing structure change:
The price per ton remains at 25 Euro. But we suspened the fund for micro-scale projects for two years, because we have to record project-specific delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting limited travel. In November 2022 this decision was made at the shareholders' meeting. The current level of funds secures the micro-scale projects known to us at this point in time. Nevertheless the Extra-Euro will remain: This revenue is a separate reserve for investments to be prepared for necessary financial support, which exceeds the current level of the fund for the micro-scale projects. We use the vast majority of funds we receive (approx. 88%) for project work and merely 12% for administration and public relations.

"How is the price calculated?"

The price for offsetting one ton of CO2 results on the one hand from the implementation of the climate protection projects and on the other hand from external reviewing and verification of the emission reductions by Gold Standard. The amount of the costs depends on the size of the project, the technology used and the country in which the project is implemented. The trading of certificates on the markets also influences the Prices.

"Is the price for offsetting one ton of CO2 linked to the CO2 price of the Fuel Emissions Trading Act?"

No, our price is not linked to the Fuel Emissions Trading Act. Why not?
Under the european emission trading scheme, the sectors heath and mobility are not included, so there is a national initiative to introduce a own price and trade for these sectors. The Fuel Emissions Trading Act is a part of the mandatory market, while we are operation in the voluntary marktet for emissions trading. The price set in the Fuel Emissions Trading Act is supposed to increase from 25 Euros to 55 Euros by 2025 - our price is not.

"Is the price covering the cost of climate change?"

The cost of climate change are all direct and indirect cost caused by climate change. Besides direct cost, for example flood damage, harvest failures due to drought an extrem weather events, also indirect impacts are priced in. Indirect cost are health issues, impacts to biodiversity, change in land use, migrant and refugee movements resulting from limited resources, flooding and on-going droughts, which take away economic use of these regions.

A precise scientific figure of the price is quite complex. However the impacts of climate change are increasingly quantified. The German Enviroment Agency (Umweltbundesamt - UBA)¹ quantifes one tonne of CO2 a round 698 Euro.

At Klima-Kollekte, the price for one ton of CO2 is derived from the average costs incurred in the implementation of climate protection projects, including certification. Also the micro-scale project are getting funds, which are often more cost-intensive in the development. In addition, one Euro of the ton per price flows into the educational work of Klima-Kollekte to foster dedication to climate protection.

¹www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/umwelt-wirtschaft/gesellschaftliche-kosten-von-umweltbelastungen

„Does the Klima-Kollekte run an indulgence business?“

No, because the Klima-Kollekte takes the position that no one can do justice to God through pious acts or the payment of money. The grace and love of God are an encouragement for the Klima-Kollekte and its partner houses to act responsibly before God and towards fellow human beings and the creation. The Klima-Kollekte does not claim to stand any better before God and man. Nevertheless, for us the compensation - after the steps of avoidance and reduction - is a step to more Christian responsibility, to the preservation of the creation and to more climate justice.

Questions about the calculator

Klima-Kollekte uses the CO₂-calculator from KlimAktiv, which is a non-profit privat limited company (gGmbH). KlimAktiv designed the software and is responsible for its further development and the distribution of the tool.
The emission factors are based on the latest scientific findings. The factors were developed by KlimAktiv gGmbH and ifeu (dem Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg gGmbH).

"What is special about our CO2-calculator?"

The emission factors used by the CO2-calculator are based ont the latest scientific findings.The factors were developed by the non-profit private limited company KlimAktiv (gGmbH) and ifeu (Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg gGmbH).
The factors are updated yearly by KlimAktiv.
The CO₂-calculator was developed for the German Enviroment Agency (Umweltbundesamt - UBA) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and it is used by them.
Besides CO₂, the calculator takes all other greenhouse gases from the in 1997 resolved Kyoto Protocol into account, e.g. Methane and nitrous oxide. All relevant greenhouse gas emissions are converted into CO₂ equivalents.
Other CO2-calculator include only or primarily mobility. Our calculator is able to calculate more areas of our lives: you can calculate electricity consumption, thermal energy, events, paper & printed material, accommodation and diverse option of mobility like car, train or ferry.

"Where are the factors for the calculator come from?"

The calculator of Klima Kollekte is fed with data from KlimAktiv. The non-profit private limited company (gGmbH) calculates its data using data from ifeu (Institut für Energie und Umweltforschung, Heidelberg), in particular according to the Transport Emission Model (TREMOD) developed there, GEMIS, Ecoinvernt, IPPC.

"Why did Klima-Kollekte decide to cooperate with KlimAktiv for the CO2 calculator?"

KlimAktiv is a non-profit organization.
KlimAktiv is recommended by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt - UBA) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
The Provision of data is reliable, transparent and comprehensible.
In addition, the royalties are for us as a non-profit company acceptable and less than if, we would do an in-house development. Furthermore, there are robust calculators on the market, so we are more than willing to use a good offer before yet another calculator be developed.

"How often is the data updated?"

KlimAktiv checks their factors regularly. Once a year (beginning of the year), every factor is updated.

"Can I offset emissions from other areas besides air travel?"

Yes, it is important to the Klima-Kollekte to be able to calculate the emissions of other areas than air travel. Therefore, we also offer factors for the areas of energy, events (accommodation, catering), paper and printed materials.
Emissions can also be calculated for the use of other means of transport (car, ferry, public transport, long-distance train).
If you know the electricity consumption of your e-bike or e-scooter, the emissions can be calculated using our calculator in the energy section.
To calculate the emissions of a website, contact us.
We can also try to determine other areas for you that are not listed in the CO2 calculator. To do this, please send us an enquiry by email to infodontospamme@gowaway.klima-kollekte.de

"Why does the calculator also have emission factors for rail travel or the use of green electricity?"

Deutsche Bahn advertises that it is the most climate-friendly means of transport. In the ICE, passengers are even supposed to travel with zero emissions. However, from our point of view, zero emissions are not possible, because the construction of stations, the maintenance of trains and finally the disposal of rails, etc. require energy and even the journeys of the DB fleet are not completely CO2-free. Only about half of the electricity comes from renewable sources. In mathematical terms, this is sufficient for long-distance passengers, but it is also bad for the account of local trains.

The same can be said about green electricity: Where it says green electricity on the outside, it does not necessarily contain only green electricity. Our factor for certified green electricity should only be used to calculate the consumption of electricity providers with the ok-power-label or the Grüner-Strom label. All other electricity providers do not sufficiently fulfil these strict criteria, as they do not promote the energy transition, for example.

"I would like to donate to climate protection without any prior calculations. Is that possible?"

Yes, this is possible by clicking on the button "Calculate and compensate emissions now" at the bottom right of the website; a popup field "Direct compensation" opens - here you can enter a specific amount of money or a certain amount of CO2 emissions and offset them. You will also find this option in the center of the homepage, highlighted in the circular element, as well as in the start slider via the icons "Simply compensate!" and "CO2 footprint".

"The calculator cannot find my airport. What can I do?"

Try the English name of the place or search the internet for the code of the airport (IATA). If you were unable to find the German name of the destination or departure city in the calculator, please let us know at infodontospamme@gowaway.klima-kollekte.de. We will then ensure that the city is added to the calculator as quickly as possible.