Carbon-Neutral Is Hip, but Is It Green?

NY Times ^ | April 29, 2007 | ANDREW C. REVKIN

[neverdem]

THE rush to go on a carbon diet, even if by proxy, is in overdrive.

In addition to the celebrities — Leo, Brad, George — politicians like John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are now running, at least part of the time, carbon-neutral campaigns. A lengthening list of big businesses — international banks, London’s taxi fleet, luxury airlines — also claim “carbon neutrality.” Silverjet, a plush new trans-Atlantic carrier, bills itself as the first fully carbon-neutral airline. It puts about $28 of each round-trip ticket into a fund for global projects that, in theory, squelch as much carbon dioxide as the airline generates — about 1.2 tons per passenger, the airline says.

Also, a largely unregulated carbon-cutting business has sprung up. In this market, consultants or companies estimate a person’s or company’s output of greenhouse gases. Then, these businesses sell “offsets,” which pay for projects elsewhere that void or sop up an equal amount of emissions — say, by planting trees or, as one new company proposes, fertilizing the ocean so algae can pull the gas out of the air. Recent counts by Business Week magazine and several environmental watchdog groups tally the trade in offsets at more than $100 million a year and growing blazingly fast.

But is the carbon-neutral movement just a gimmick?

On this, environmentalists aren’t neutral, and they don’t agree. Some believe it helps build support, but others argue that these purchases don’t accomplish anything meaningful — other than giving someone a slightly better feeling (or greener reputation) after buying a 6,000-square-foot house or passing the million-mile mark in a frequent-flier program. In fact, to many environmentalists, the carbon-neutral campaign is a sign of the times — easy on the sacrifice and big on the consumerism.

As long as the use of fossil fuels keeps climbing...

[neverdem]

IMHO, a well deserved swipe at Al Gore in dark tones, even if anthropogenic global warming is bogus. Water Vapor Rules the Greenhouse System

Thank you, FreeKeys!

[YaYa123]

" the carbon-neutral campaign is a sign of the times — easy on the sacrifice and big on the consumerism."

It's so typical of liberals...."style over substance" and their mantra, "intentions" trump reality. Jesse Jackson forgave Bill Clinton because after all, Bill didn't intend to hurt his wife and child when he messed around with Monica. So we can forgive Al Gore and his cronies for their empty intentions to help the environment with their smoke and mirrors carbon offsets.

[television is just wrong]

BS. hypocrites

[YaYa123]

elitist hypocrites

[Right_in_Virginia]

"But is the carbon-neutral movement just a gimmick?"

Give it time and the gimmick will become a tax.

[R.W.Ratikal]

I have carbon off-sets for sale. I do not operate a fleet of executive jets. All of the pollutants I don’t put in the atmosphere with the jets I don’t operate are available for purchase for those who need off-sets.

Take your time ordering, I have an unlimited supply of off-sets.

[cricket]

It puts about $28 of each round-trip ticket into a fund for global projects that, in theory, squelch as much carbon dioxide as the airline generates — about 1.2 tons per passenger, the airline says.

'in theory' being the operative word here. The 'theory' here is beyond hoax level. . .

Could we just 'stop the madness'? I fear not. . .

[Thermalseeker]

Give it time and the gimmick will become a tax.

Yep. That is what this is all about. A money grab. They think they've finally figured out a way to tax breathing....

[TheDon]

Save the environment,
kill an environmentalist.

[goldstategop]

Of course its a fraud - liberals know demanding people sacrifice their standard of living and creature comforts in exchange for reducing global warming isn't exactly a vote getter. So they're telling them that if you contribute to carbon offsets you can look like you're doing something for the Cause even when in reality it does nothing of the sort. Hey, at least you can feel better knowing you did something to save the environment. Which is the whole point behind this gimmick.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Gritty]

[neverdem]

Cogitator, I was thinking that you might be interested in the link in comment# 1.

[neverdem]

'Rabbit Ears' Find New Life in HDTV Age

US Health Agency Stages Bird Flu War Game

Food safety worries mount-(45 people ate contaminated pork,millions eat what else)

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[raybbr]

[Mygirlsmom]

LOL!!!!! It’s good to see the cartoonists mocking this scam - it will reach many people who do nothing more than scan the headlines on the way to the funny page.