Atmosphere Offset Super Credit

Preserves Natural Habitats & Supports Indigenous Nations

The Atmosphere Group Super Credit is a novel, innovative type of carbon credit. It combines the benefits of multiple projects and multiple types of carbon credits into a single Super Credit. First, Atmosphere has identified nature-based projects that have a positive potential environmental impact and make significant contributions to their communities. Some of these projects support indigenous nations. Others preserve land with spectacular features. They eliminate the perverse incentives of additionality that reward landowners for clear-cutting their forests one year and then replanting them the next.

All have sufficient vegetation to sequester at least one metric ton of carbon annually. These nature-based credits are secured and pooled together to provide diversification and a broad, global impact. They have also been rigorously evaluated to ensure that all issues relating to land title, contractual restrictions, afforestation, and reforestation, among others, are documented and disclosed. In addition, all nature-based projects are verified by a reputable third party to ensure compliance with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change standards.

Permanent Carbon Avoidance credits may be created when a technology is implemented that reduces the emission of greenhouse gases that would have been emitted in the absence of that technology. Reducing electricity usage, converting energy production from fossil fuels to renewable sources, and increasing fuel economy, and reducing effluents directly are all examples.

Electricity production is the largest source of GHG emissions, accounting for 25% of the total.17 In some regions, as much as 80% of electricity is used for indoor climate control. Technologies that decrease electricity usage from refrigeration have the potential to dramatically reduce GHG emissions. Atmosphere has identified a pioneering technology company that achieves this in applications ranging from industrial-scale applications to building HVAC systems to automotive air conditioning. The carbon credits that are created as a result of deploying this technology have been secured and are included in the Super Carbon Credit.

The product replaces the most commonly used refrigerants that are used in HVAC units, for shipping containers, industrial refrigeration, and automotive air conditioners (R134A, R-22, 404A, 407A, 407C, 410A, R1234yf, R448 and R449) with safe, non-toxic compound. The molecular structure contains lubricated, space filling oils that are bonded to the feedstock refrigerant. This results in decreasing the total energy consumption by 20% to 40% depending on the application. It also improves cooling and heating performance and eliminates the harmful effects on the ozone and atmosphere from direct leakage. It also eliminates the need for new equipment to be installed along with the associated environmental impact. The technology has already been adopted by numerous, marquis customers with a 100% success rate from pilot to conversion. The associated electricity savings based on these installations include:

Universities – 29% savings; § Grocers – 30% savings;

Hospitals – 31% savings;

Data centers – 27% savings; § Retail – 36% savings;

Manufacturing – 25% savings.

Climate change has been identified as a significant global challenge for the foreseeable future. A solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions via a market mechanism was proposed in the Kyoto protocol. In this view, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are considered commodities, forming a carbon trading system. Emissions are then capped at a theoretical level for a specific geography, and entities that exceed the permitted levels may offset their emissions by purchasing an allowance of carbon dioxide from those that produce at a level that is level than their baseline. In addition, projects and technologies may be deployed that eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon dioxide, resulting in “net zero” emissions.

GHG emissions have increased steadily for the past 100 years, mainly due to increased CO2 emissions from emerging economies. They are still increasing all over the world despite climate change mitigation agreements.1 Present GHG emissions are about 57% higher than in 1990 and 43% higher than in 2000. Under the Kyoto Protocol (1997), seven greenhouse gases are considered the significant contributors to global warming: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are the largest source of global GHG emissions, with a share of about 72%, followed by CH4 (19%), N2O (6%), and the F-gases (3%). The direct drivers of CO2 are coal, oil, and natural gas combustion, representing 89% of global CO2 emissions, with respective shares of 39%, 31%, and 18%. For CH4, there are three significant sources: agriculture, fossil fuel production, and wastewater. Fossil fuel production and transmission account for a third of global methane emissions.

Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by four means: organic decomposition, respiration, ocean release, and industrial activity. The carbon footprint is the amount of carbon CO2 emissions associated with all the actions of a person, business, or another entity, such as a building, community, country, etc. It includes direct emissions, such as those from fossil-fuel combustion in manufacturing, heating, and transportation, and emissions required to produce the electricity associated with goods and services consumed. In addition, the carbon footprint concept also often includes the emissions of other greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, or chlorofluorocarbons. 

The larger the carbon footprint, the greater the impact on the environment and individuals. The ever-increasing levels of CO2 in the air lead to climate change with devastating weather events. GHG emissions also lead to air pollution. Toxic urban smog hangs over many of the large metropolitan areas in the world, which causes an alarming increase in respiratory infections and cancer. Sulfur emissions lead to acid rain, devastatingly affecting human health, fauna, and flora. Carbon emissions also add to coastal and ocean acidification. Acidic waters are the reason behind the extinction of many marine species. In combination with the rising temperatures and pollution, acid is bleaching the coral reefs that offer protection and serve as home to juvenile marine wildlife.  

Sulfur dioxide is another GHG that affects human and animal health. The U.S. emits more than 6.4 million tons of sulfur dioxide each year. The most significant sources of SO2 emissions are electricity generation, industrial boilers, and industrial processes such as petroleum refining and metal processing. Diesel engines are also an extensive source, especially older buses and trucks, locomotives, ships, and off-road diesel equipment that do not have precise combustion throughout the duty cycle. In addition to causing acid rain, sulfur dioxide attacks the lungs. Direct exposure causes wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness and restricts physical activity. Continued exposure reduces the ability of the lungs to function properly. It increases the rate of hospital admissions or emergency room visits, especially among children, older adults, and people with asthma. 

Particulate matter (PM) may be responsible for an even more significant impact on the environment, climate, and human health. PM is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen by the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using a microscope. PM is the black soot that can be seen pouring out of industrial smoke stakes and the tailpipes of vehicles. The portion of the hydrocarbon was not entirely burned during combustion. It then travels through the atmosphere before finally being deposited on land and in the water. Also referred to as black carbon, you can see it in dramatic contrast to the brilliant white as it covers glaciers and arctic animals like polar bears, baby seals, and birds. It disrupts solar reflection, increasing the rate at which glaciers and polar ice melt. That results in cascading effects on the food web, which often begin in Arctic waters.

PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. There is no known safe exposure level. PM2.5 presents a global risk to human health and animal welfare. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to PM2.5 was responsible for over 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide.4 The WHO went on to state that there is strong evidence to support that PM emitted by diesel road vehicles is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, Diabetes, cancers, birth defects, dementia, and death. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that PM2.5 causes 230,000 premature deaths annually in the United States. A comprehensive study from Harvard and other leading universities from around the world found that both short and long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased mortality. 

Researchers are beginning to understand the health threats posed by exposure to fine particulate matter in the nanoparticle size range. Particulates this small can enter the bloodstream through the gut, lungs, and mucus membranes, cross the blood-brain barrier, and affect multiple organs and metabolic systems.6 As our understanding of the associations between PM2.5 and inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurologic damage has grown, so has the concern in medical, environmental, and community health research. Recent studies have found associations between PM2.5 and the following medical conditions:

▪ Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 at levels typically experienced by many individuals in the United States is associated with cognitive decline in older women. 

▪ Autism. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution, nitrogen dioxide, and PM2.5 during pregnancy and the first year of life was associated with Autism. 

▪ Heart attack. Exposures to PM for as little as a few hours can trigger heart attack and sudden cardiac death, even at levels 50% below the European Union limit values (25 μg/m3 for PM2.5. 

▪ Stroke. Short-term PM2.5 exposure is also linked to elevated blood pressure, Stroke, and stroke-attributed hospital admissions. 

▪ Lung disease. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer by approximately 20%. 

▪ Asthma. Increases in ambient NOX, NO2, and PM2.5 are strongly linked with childhood asthma attacks requiring hospital admission.

▪ Diabetes and metabolic disease. Both NOX and PM2.5 are significantly associated with blood glucose levels, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in children and adults. 

▪ Cancers. Several cancers are more common in people exposed to PM2.5: lung cancer (~20%), liver cancer (~34%) breast cancer (~20%). 
▪ Birth defects: Cardiac birth defects, including atrial septal defects and atrial articulation, are indicated by exposure to PM2.5. Surgical intervention is required to correct these abnormalities to prevent progression to adult cardiac disease and complications such as Stroke, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.  

▪ Low birth rate. PM2.5 is associated with low birth weight, the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. and Europe. Low birth weight has been associated with hyperactivity disorders, developmental issues, and cognitive deficits.  

▪ Adult-onset chronic diseases: PM2.5 exposure during gestation, infancy, and throughout lifespan increases the long-term risk for multiple adult-onset chronic diseases, including: 

• Diabetes (kidney disease, cancer); 
• Ischemic heart disease (Stroke, heart attack, sudden death); 
• Heart failure (pulmonary edema, cardiomyopathy, sudden death); 
• Cerebrovascular disease (Stroke, dementia); 
• Thrombosis (Stroke, pulmonary embolism); 
• Hypertension (Stroke, kidney disease); and 
• Cardiac arrhythmias (Stroke, heart attack, sudden death). 
   

Atmosphere is committed to helping businesses and individuals adopt sustainable business solutions. Sustainability must come first to be successful and safeguard our planet's future. Atmosphere's mission is twofold, to create a program geared toward rewarding sustainable decisions and actions taken by individuals, businesses, and partners while simultaneously pushing for positive progress toward preserving the world for generations to come. We understand that financial success is only one piece of an effective strategy. Long-term benefits require socially responsible choices as well.

Atmosphere Group Ltd. (Atmosphere) ensures that everyone can take personal responsibility for their carbon footprint. The goal is to democratize access to making an impact. Atmosphere helps the process in creating carbon credits that brings transparency, accessibility, liquidity, and standardization to the market. Every carbon credit is backed by a metric ton of certified emissions reduction. It's a virtuous circle that begins with landowners who agree to conserve or replant their deciduous forests, rainforests, and arable land. This removes the incentives for deforestation that have decimated the major carbon sinks worldwide. It also includes technologies that permanently avoid or eliminate carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gasses, and particulate matter pollution. This has the additional benefit of removing other sources of climate change and helping to reduce the harmful effects on human and animal health. The emissions reductions from nature-based projects and technological applications are combined into a single Super Carbon Credit. It provides for the certified emissions reduction of a metric ton of carbon plus the atmospheric reduction of other effluents.
 

Verified Credits ensures that all Carbon Avoidance and Super Carbon Credits, as well as the underlying projects, comply with their stringent requirements. This process starts with verifying the ownership of the associated land through government records, including title and deeds. It then requires support for the vegetation on the property and the amount of carbon sequestration provided using a proprietary suite of imaging and information databases. Finally, the landowner enters into an annual contract agreeing to restrict the land from development and deforestation because the carbon credit is in force during that time frame. Compliance with this provision is monitored every quarter. Atmopshere via Verified Credits relies on an independent agency, the Institute for Global Education (IGE), to verify all of the information submitted by the project sponsor. IGE is a United Nations ECOSOC NGO, the highest level of UN delegate, chartered to support sustainable development goals. Only those projects that meet these requirements are minted and registered with Verified Credits, a leading carbon credit registry, and exchange. The Verified Credits “green check” may then be used by Atmosphere and the holders of the carbon credits. Verified Credits also maintain all transaction details about the creation, subsequent transfer of ownership, and ultimate extinguishment of these credits to ensure their integrity and prevent forgeries.