Carbon offsets 'harm environment' - BBC

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 February 2007, 17:31 GMT

Carbon offsets 'harm environment'

The current trend for "offsetting" carbon emissions by planting trees is doing
more harm to the environment than good, MPs have been told.

The public is being "seriously misled" by companies peddling carbon offset schemes,
campaigner Jutta Kill told the environmental audit committee.

The schemes did not reduce emissions and simply gave industry a "licence to pollute"
elsewhere, she argued.

People should give money directly to climate charities instead, she said.

-snip-

In addition, "More than half" of the money given to companies selling carbon offsets
went on research and administration costs, "benefiting not the climate but the
burgeoning consultancy industry".

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6378471.stm

[kestrel91316]

1. Since when does "carbon offsets" equal planting trees. I have bought

offsets through NativeEnergy and it is funding renewable energy projects.

Since when is that worse for the environment than DOING NOTHING???

This is from the UK, so what do you expect?

[Eugene]

2. The article's point is that carbon trading schemes need to be honest.

It is important that the offset sinks as much carbon it licenses to polluters
and that the money is actually planting trees, not lining consultants' pockets.
NativeEnergy is a reputable offset scheme, but cheaters are entering the
marketplace. Phony offsets are counterproductive, especially where caps are
mandatory like Europe.

Planting trees is good, but the advocates cited want to go after the polluters
first and foremost. The article also discusses if and how carbon offset schemes
should be accredited.