Comments on: Do You Find Carbon Offsets Off-Putting? http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/ Experiences in living green, healthy and happy Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:05:35 -0700 hourly 1 By: simon http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-3711 simon Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:50:41 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-3711 I think of carbon offsets as a voluntary environmental tax, the proceeds of which go towards investment in good things, like alternative energy and forestation projects . While they may not be the perfect solution to global warming, I don't think it can be argued that investment in these sorts of things is a bad thing. Consider what would happen if half of all Americans voluntarily paid $100 per year to offset their emissions -- $15 billion dollars in additional funds annually would go towards wind and solar energy projects. That WOULD make a difference. The knock against offsets is they let us go guilt free about our ways without changing our behavior which is obviously what really needs to happen to reverse climate change. But I don't think it's realistic to believe that people are going to stop driving or flying any time soon. The specter of global warming has been around for years and they haven't yet. In fact, people have traveled more and more and cars have gotten bigger and bigger. So yes, use CFL bulbs, buy a more fuel efficient car, and think about whether you really need to take that trip on a plane. But if you have to travel or drive, as most of us do, consider offsetting your emissions and making a voluntary investment in clean energy or a new forest. I think of carbon offsets as a voluntary environmental tax, the proceeds of which go towards investment in good things, like alternative energy and forestation projects . While they may not be the perfect solution to global warming, I don’t think it can be argued that investment in these sorts of things is a bad thing. Consider what would happen if half of all Americans voluntarily paid $100 per year to offset their emissions — $15 billion dollars in additional funds annually would go towards wind and solar energy projects. That WOULD make a difference. The knock against offsets is they let us go guilt free about our ways without changing our behavior which is obviously what really needs to happen to reverse climate change. But I don’t think it’s realistic to believe that people are going to stop driving or flying any time soon. The specter of global warming has been around for years and they haven’t yet. In fact, people have traveled more and more and cars have gotten bigger and bigger. So yes, use CFL bulbs, buy a more fuel efficient car, and think about whether you really need to take that trip on a plane. But if you have to travel or drive, as most of us do, consider offsetting your emissions and making a voluntary investment in clean energy or a new forest.

]]> By: home made wind generators http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-3667 home made wind generators Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:53:53 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-3667 Useful info will come back again Useful info will come back again

]]> By: bud kuppenheimer http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2775 bud kuppenheimer Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:59:22 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2775 Well written and well thought out. How refreshing to read some common sense for a change. Well written and well thought out. How refreshing to read some common sense for a change.

]]> By: Kris http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2756 Kris Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:37:57 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2756 Hi, Candy, Thank you for your article! I learned much more about the carbon offset program from your article. While I would support the programs by paying a litlte more on my flight costs, I agree that there are many ways in which we can help the environment by doing simple things in our own homes and in our daily lives. Thanks again! Hi, Candy,

Thank you for your article! I learned much more about the carbon offset program from your article. While I would support the programs by paying a litlte more on my flight costs, I agree that there are many ways in which we can help the environment by doing simple things in our own homes and in our daily lives. Thanks again!

]]> By: Robbie Adler http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2731 Robbie Adler Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:08:33 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2731 It is important to look at carbon offsets in the broader scope of the fight against climate change. Offsets should never be viewed as away of avoiding conservation and efficiency efforts, nor will they alone be able to stop climate change. Rather, they are an arrow in the quiver of sustainability. They allow you the option of going the extra mile. Ideally, you not only change your light bulbs, drive less, wrap your hot water heater, etc. but choose to use offsets as a means for dealing with the unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions in your life. It doesn't take long to think of what these emissions are (ie. transportation, shared services like street lights, grid provided electricity). Offsets tend to get a bad wrap because people see them as a means for avoiding hard choices involving personal impact. I think most people who choose to purchase offsets are by in large avid environmentalists who want to do everything they can to mitigate their impact. They are not hummer drivers. As a consumer of offsets, it is important to be skeptical and do your homework. Transparency from an offset provider is key, as well as proof that the projects are additional, ie would not have happened without the funds generated from the sale of offsets. It is important to look at carbon offsets in the broader scope of the fight against climate change. Offsets should never be viewed as away of avoiding conservation and efficiency efforts, nor will they alone be able to stop climate change. Rather, they are an arrow in the quiver of sustainability. They allow you the option of going the extra mile. Ideally, you not only change your light bulbs, drive less, wrap your hot water heater, etc. but choose to use offsets as a means for dealing with the unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions in your life. It doesn’t take long to think of what these emissions are (ie. transportation, shared services like street lights, grid provided electricity). Offsets tend to get a bad wrap because people see them as a means for avoiding hard choices involving personal impact. I think most people who choose to purchase offsets are by in large avid environmentalists who want to do everything they can to mitigate their impact. They are not hummer drivers.

As a consumer of offsets, it is important to be skeptical and do your homework. Transparency from an offset provider is key, as well as proof that the projects are additional, ie would not have happened without the funds generated from the sale of offsets.

]]> By: John H. http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2723 John H. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:27:40 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2723 Sounds like a scam to me. It's just to convenient for them to say they help fund clean-energy projects around the world. Around the world makes pretty hard for anyone to check up on where the money goes. Sounds like a scam to me. It’s just to convenient for them to say they help fund clean-energy projects around the world. Around the world makes pretty hard for anyone to check up on where the money goes.

]]> By: muriel shiff http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2674 muriel shiff Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:00:31 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2674 Like so many green ideas, I think this should be at or near the bottom of the to do list. In this day of scam artists, I can see all kinds of pit falls. On the positive side, if people do travel to the remote corners of this planet, they will come back with an awareness (hopefully) of how fragile earth really is, and with the knowledge we only have one planet and when it is destroyed, there is no where to go after that. Lets do something overt rather than pay our way with questionable results. Go Green Like so many green ideas, I think this should be at or near the bottom of the to do list. In this day of scam artists, I can see all kinds of pit falls. On the positive side, if people do travel to the remote corners of this planet, they will come back with an awareness (hopefully) of how fragile earth really is, and with the knowledge we only have one planet and when it is destroyed, there is no where to go after that. Lets do something overt rather than pay our way with questionable results. Go Green

]]> By: Travis John http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2670 Travis John Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:28:05 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2670 I really hadn't thought about how awfully potent jet exhaust is at that altitude! I really hadn’t thought about how awfully potent jet exhaust is at that altitude!

]]> By: Paula Apfelbach http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2667 Paula Apfelbach Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:56:13 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2667 Everything's a trade-off — always. Even things that seem relatively pure must be considered carefully for their hidden costs and the potential damage that they might do. At least we're having the discussions! Everything’s a trade-off — always. Even things that seem relatively pure must be considered carefully for their hidden costs and the potential damage that they might do. At least we’re having the discussions!

]]> By: John Thomas http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/do-you-find-carbon-offsets-off-putting/comment-page-1/#comment-2661 John Thomas Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:11:10 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=4667#comment-2661 There are plenty of travel expenses that irk me, but any program that helps offset harm to the environment is OK with me! There are plenty of travel expenses that irk me, but any program that helps offset harm to the environment is OK with me!

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