Supporters of carbon neutrality say businesses and individuals can easily reduce their net climate impact. All they have to do is balance carbon emissions against the purchase of credits in environmentally friendly activities. Although the concept has its critics--including some who dispute the science--there's no disagreement that carbon neutrality is politically correct to embrace.

When asked about his company's pledge to become carbon neutral by 2012, Brett White, president and chief executive officer of CB Richard Ellis, put it like this: "Our decision is driven by our desire to do the right thing, but it is also a direct result of a rapidly evolving marketplace. A large number of our clients, both property owners and occupiers, are already actively working to reduce energy costs and create greener space."

In short, companies are adopting carbon neutral policies for both environmental and business reasons. To advance their goal of carbon neutrality, some businesses are forging alliances with environmental partners. Baxter International Inc., the pharmaceutical firm, says its carbon neutral headquarters keeps more than 11,600 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere annually and offsets 100% of its electricity the facility consumers. It purchased Green-e certified certificates equal to 15.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity from the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Late last year, Santa Ana, CA–based Altius Information Technologies Inc. launched an environmentally conscious technology program in an effort to offset the CO2 emissions from the use of IT products. The firm, which provides risk analysis and customized risk response plans for real estate and other businesses, is working with the Conservation Fund, Carbonfund.org and Dell Inc. to promote carbon neutrality.

The Conservation Fund, an environmental organization highly rated by the American Institute of Philanthropy, sponsors a variety of climate-change programs that have resulted in the planting of more than nine million trees. Statistically speaking, those trees will trap more than 13.5 million tons of CO2. Carbonfund.org is a non-profit organization formed to educate the public about climate change and ways to reduce its impact on the climate.

Altius executives say their goal is to "make it easy and affordable" for businesses and individuals to measure their carbon emissions and then offset them by planting trees. Participants, they explain, can offset their average total one-year carbon impact though a $99 donation, which is used to plant native trees.