Posted on 08/26/2007 10:12:07 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Feeling guilty about the amount of deadly greenhouse gases you emit by driving that big SUV or using your air conditioner during the summer?
Well, don't count on an easy fix.
While celebrities like Al Gore and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger burnish their green credentials by buying so-called carbon offsets that fund projects like wind farms to make up for their energy excesses, environmental advocates nationwide criticize the effectiveness of the programs.
Their concern: The carbon offset market, which is largely unregulated, lacks the standards or the oversight needed to make sure that the projects consumers send money to are actually helping clean the air.
"Right now the status is buyer beware," said Julia Bovey, spokeswoman with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "There are a lot of companies out there . . . but there are concerns that have to do with whether the money is going to where they say it is going."
Since the industry is not monitored, it's difficult to say how many people are buying offsets, called that because they are supposed to "offset" the buyer's carbon emissions. But it's clear demand is rising.
Since 2002 the number of organizations selling carbon credits has grown by 200 percent, with online retailers expanding even faster, according to a report released last month by research firm EcoSystem Marketplace.
Popular online travel sites like Travelocity and Expedia let customers offset carbon emissions from air travel by paying extra for a ticket. Last year, Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" struck a nerve with audiences, raising interest in fighting global warming. And big companies like Google have announced plans to become "carbon neutral" and buy offsets.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
No. But thanks for asking.
“The carbon offset market, which is largely unregulated, lacks the standards or the oversight needed to make sure that the projects consumers send money to are actually helping clean the air.”
No problem, they’ll just create a Government Agency to regulate it and charge a tax to run the new department. That will fix everything! What’s the matter with you people?!
Yes, I see what you are saying.
Another layer or two of bureaucracy and it will work. uh huh. ;-)
I offered to sell some carbon offset credits to a few liberal friends....no takers. I think even they know it is a scam.
An easy fix doesn't exist for a politician.
A future of doom and gloom does exist for the sake of their future in politics however.
Tsk Tsk.. FRiends don’t sell FRiends carbon offset credits. lol (.. and good for them, btw)
That’s right, Global Warming solved!
Next faux crisis to gouge the American tax payer please. Let’s keep ‘em coming!
The Corporations doing the most to develop green alternatives are Big Oil.
"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
Yea, we need more bureaucracy to mask the present debacle of bureaucracy that we are strapped with.
What the hay, it's only hard earned labor..../s
Gosh, really?
I guess whatever it takes to divest one of their finances and make them feel good about it at the same time....
P.T. Barnum will be considered the next coming hopeful.
When buying carbon credits.....what are you really buying? Absolutely NOTHING. You are just giving your money to Al Gore and his company.
"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
I wonder when the first “My uncle died suddenly and left 12,000,000 carbon offsets in the bank and I need help...” e-mail will arrive from Nigeria.
Its pretty easy to find how to BUY these things, I want to SELL them. I'm wondering if in some areas where land is still cheap, the payments you can get per acre would offset the payments on the land?
I understand Al is heavily invested in the organization that exchanges or banks the so called “carbon credits.” So when he buys them to offset his impact, the money comes back to him through his investment. He is laughing all the way to the bank.
And my electric utility says that I can opt to pay a higher rate for electricity, assuring me that if I do, my electricity will come from "green sources".
Suuuuure...
True, for with P.T. Barnum's promotion it was still just an individual decision to be idiotic enough to accept it and support it.
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