Offsetkompensasjon

Offsetkompensasjon, often translated as offset compensation, is a term used in various fields to describe the act of balancing or counteracting a negative effect with a positive one. The specific meaning and application of offsetkompensasjon depend heavily on the context in which it is used.

In accounting, offsetkompensasjon can refer to the practice of netting out receivables and payables between two parties. If Company A owes Company B a certain amount, and Company B also owes Company A a sum, offsetkompensasjon would involve reducing the total amount owed by each party by the amount they are owed by the other. This simplifies transactions and can reduce the need for actual cash transfers.

In environmental contexts, offsetkompensasjon, or environmental offsets, are measures taken to compensate for unavoidable negative environmental impacts of a development project. For example, if a new construction project will destroy a certain area of wetland, the developer might be required to create or restore an equivalent area of wetland elsewhere. This aims to achieve no net loss of the environmental resource.

In finance, offsetkompensasjon can relate to hedging strategies where an investor might take a position that is intended to offset potential losses from another investment. This is a risk management technique designed to minimize volatility and protect capital. The principle is always to use a counterbalancing action to mitigate a primary effect.