süsinikupäästmise

Süsinikupäästmise, also known as carbon credits or emissions trading, is a market-based system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It operates on the principle that a company or entity can emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases, measured in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. If a company emits less than its allocated limit, it can sell its surplus emissions allowance to another company that has exceeded its limit. This creates a financial incentive for companies to reduce their emissions.

The core idea behind süsinikupäästmise is to put a price on carbon pollution. By making it more expensive to emit greenhouse gases, it encourages businesses to invest in cleaner technologies and more efficient processes. There are various mechanisms for implementing carbon markets, including cap-and-trade systems and carbon offsetting. In a cap-and-trade system, a limit, or cap, is set on total emissions, and allowances are distributed. In carbon offsetting, emissions reductions are achieved in projects outside the regulated entity's operations, such as renewable energy or reforestation initiatives, and these reductions can be used to offset emissions.

The effectiveness of süsinikupäästmise is a subject of ongoing debate. Proponents argue that it is a flexible and cost-effective way to achieve emissions reductions. Critics raise concerns about potential loopholes, the accuracy of emission measurements, and the risk of "greenwashing" where companies may appear to be reducing emissions without making substantial changes. Nevertheless, carbon markets are a significant policy tool in many countries' climate change mitigation strategies, aiming to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy.