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The truth about carbon offsets: My Brain Hurts.

by Barry ORegan | February 22, 2008 at 04:49 am

1187 views | 2 Recommendations | 6 comments

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Maybe it is just me, but just reading more Bafflegab on Carbon Offsets makes my Brain Hurt.   I am never one to dispute the seriousness of Pollution in our world and am more than glad to do my part. But even Suzuki's explaination on "Carbon Offset Credits for Dummies" made easy, still confuses the hell out of me.

Will I be able to walk into my local 7-Eleven and buy some with my Lottery Tickets? Once I have some, what do I do with them, put them on the fridge and save them for a rainy day?

What can I get for them, after all they are Credits? Financial Credit is defined as Cash, Goods or Services given now, in order to pay for any of this in the future.   Can I pay my Taxes with my Carbon Credit to the Federal Taxman, or will I have to purchase a "Carbon Get out of Jail Credit"?

Can I give Carbon Credits as Gifts? As an Anniversary Present, will my Girlfriend appreciate Carbon Credits over Concert Tickets or a nice pair of shoes? If I walk into my bank, can I pay my mortgage with Carbon Credits, is that okay? Will my Banker take them? After all Carbon Credits are credit, much like a Credit Card or is it?

I hope to god Carbon Credits doesn't mean I can buy more Carbon Credits, because if it is, where will I put them all, cause my wallet is full as it is, what with my Esso Card, Blockbuster Card, Costco Card, Driver's Lic..........

Maybe and easier way to get people to purchase Carbon Credits is to have a Carbon Credit National Lottery, much like 6/49 or like the US Powerball, this way we have a chance of getting something, instead of nothing for something.

Yeah, my Brain still hurts, but at least it feels good when I stop thinking of Carbon Credits.

The truth about carbon offsets

By DAVID SUZUKI WITH FAISAL MOOLA

You may have been hearing a lot about carbon offsets, or 'carbon credits', lately. They've become a must-have accessory for individuals and organizations who want to fight climate change and show their green credentials.

Everyone from banks like HSBC, to rock bands like the Rolling Stones, to almost 500 NHL players are purchasing carbon offsets for their emissions.

But what are carbon offsets anyway? And do they really help solve the problem of global warming?

Carbon offsets are not a silver bullet, but global warming is such a big problem that it requires a whole range of solutions. Carbon offsets are just one of them.

Take David Suzuki's Nature Challenge and learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

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PEP

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:21 on February 22nd, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff. I think the carbon credits thing is just the newest form of the three card (or three shell) monte game.

dogsbody

at 10:17 on February 22nd, 2008

I agree it's easy to get the impression that carbon offsets are a band-aid solution or some sleight of hand, but anything that brings down the sum total of carbon emissions has got to be a good thing, no?

And really, are they that hard to understand? No one pretends that offsets or credits are the cure for global warming, but, combined with efforts at reduction they can be an effective part of the solution. Let's not disparage the folks who are trying to make a difference!

Barry ORegan

at 15:02 on February 26th, 2008

As I said Dog, as long as it is put into programs it is meant to help and not just a bureaucracy with hired friends and cronies who need a job, resulting in a department with no money for programs because they are using the money for bureaucrats.

There is an old but true and valid Quebec saying, Once upon a time there was a toll booth was installed on the highway North to Montreal, the Toll was $2.00 dollars each way, this was to pay for the new highway built in the 1960's for cottagers on the way to Lac Labelle. Well come 1999 and the told booth is still there, it was proven the highway was paid in full by the mid 1980, when premier's government was asked why then is the toll booth is still there? His response was "Upkeep for ther Toll Booth and salaries for toll Personnel" . Ludicrous but True, as Gas taxes pay for the roads upkeep anyway, hence no need for the toll booth,. Guess what the Toll booth is still there.

Get my point? That is why I proposed a Carbon Lottery like 6/49, this way people wont mind paying for something they have a hope of winning, may still buy those Carbon Lottery Tickets. Better this way that forcing it onto people.

Carbonfund.org

at 09:49 on February 26th, 2008

Unlike the toll booth, we at Carbonfund.org would gladly find new jobs if global warming wasn't a problem anymore. But until then, we're doing our part as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to reduce and offset carbon emissions. To learn more about us and what we do, visit us at: www.carbonfund.org

Thank you,

Carbonfund.org