Carbon Offsets by Description Condition
The survey tested two different descriptions for carbon offsets to
see if wording impacted behavioral indicators.
- Original description (80%)
- Carbon offsets are something you can buy. If you buy a carbon
offset, you are paying for someone to reduce carbon emissions or pull
emissions out of the atmosphere. For example, if you buy a 1 ton carbon
offset, that means that 1 ton of carbon is either not released into the
atmosphere or is pulled out of the atmosphere. Importantly, if that
carbon offset did not exist, that carbon would have ended up in the
atmosphere.
- New description (20%)
- Every person has a carbon footprint, which is the total amount
of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) their
activities generate. In order to address the impact of climate change,
an individual needs to assess and reduce one’s own carbon emissions.
Because it is challenging to be carbon neutral (or net zero) solely
through lowering one’s emissions, carbon offsetting is a market
mechanism allowing individuals to purchase carbon credits from verified
projects designed to reduce carbon emissions or remove carbon from the
atmosphere. Thus, through calculating one’s carbon footprint, then
through emissions reduction, and finally through purchasing carbon
credits, an individual can achieve carbon neutrality.
Methods
In April 2024, we surveyed adults from the greater Boston area (n =
1,015), quota-matched to the population of the metro area by age x sex x
race and Hispanic / Non-Hispanic identity. Additionally, the sample was
weighted using survey weights to be representative of the Boston area
adult population on the same two dimensions.
Prior Boston Index findings: