The Role of Carbon Credits in Achieving Net Zero
As the urgency of environment action intensifies, businesses worldwide are committing to net-zero targets. While emission reductions remain the cornerstone of any credible sustainability strategy, reaching absolute zero emissions is nearly impossible for most organizations—at least in the near term. That’s where carbon credits come in.
Carbon credits provide a practical way for companies to balance their residual emissions, support climate-positive projects, and accelerate progress toward net zero. But their role must be understood carefully to ensure transparency, trust, and real impact.
What Are Carbon Credits?
A carbon credit represents the removal or avoidance of one metric ton of CO₂ (or equivalent greenhouse gases) from the atmosphere. Companies can purchase credits to “offset” emissions they can’t immediately eliminate.
Two Main Types of Carbon Credits:
Avoidance/Reduction Credits – Prevent emissions that would have occurred (e.g., renewable energy projects replacing coal power).
Removal Credits – Actively capture or absorb CO₂ (e.g., reforestation, direct air capture, soil carbon storage).
Both play an important role in the transition to net zero, but removal credits are increasingly seen as the gold standard for long-term climate solutions.
Why Carbon Credits Matter for Net Zero
Addressing Hard-to-Abate Emissions
Some sectors—like aviation, shipping, cement, and steel—face technological and economic barriers to fully eliminating emissions. Carbon credits provide a bridge while cleaner solutions scale up.Accelerating Global Climate Projects
Purchasing credits funds critical initiatives such as forest conservation, renewable energy infrastructure, and carbon removal technologies—helping developing regions invest in sustainable growth.Enabling Faster Progress
Instead of waiting for perfect internal solutions, companies can take immediate climate action by offsetting unavoidable emissions.
Risks of Misusing Carbon Credits
While carbon credits are powerful, they’ve also been misused—leading to accusations of greenwashing. Risks include:
Low-quality credits that don’t deliver real or permanent carbon savings.
Over-reliance on offsets instead of actual emission reductions.
Lack of transparency in reporting how credits are used.
To maintain credibility, companies must treat carbon credits as a complement, not a substitute, to emission reduction.
Best Practices for Using Carbon Credits
Prioritize Reduction First – Cut emissions wherever possible before offsetting.
Choose Verified Credits – Use standards like Gold Standard, Verra (VCS), or Climate Action Reserve to ensure legitimacy.
Balance Avoidance & Removal – Support both immediate impact (avoidance) and long-term solutions (removal).
Report Transparently – Clearly disclose how many credits are purchased, from where, and why.
Engage Stakeholders – Show customers, employees, and investors that credits are part of a broader net-zero strategy.
How Hestiya Supports Net Zero
At HestiyaMarketplace, we help organizations use carbon credits responsibly:
Access to verified, high-quality credits aligned with global standards.
By combining real emission reductions with responsible offsetting, companies can move confidently toward net zero while contributing to global climate progress.
