Comments on: Carbon offset = cheat offset? http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/ Dedicated to the balanced discussion of global warming Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:02:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jamie http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-41095 Jamie Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:04:29 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-41095 It think it’s been generally accepted that planting trees as carbon offsets is naïve sadly. A nice idea, but a little behind the times. I really think that carbon offsetting can make a difference. I only offset using high quality CER-based carbon offsets from companies such as http://www.clear-offset.com/ essentially allow private individuals to invest in green technologies that wouldn't necessarily make commercial sense otherwise. If the powers that can't build a biomass plant or hydro dam as it's too expensive, then have a guess what they're going to build instead - yup, yet more coal / oil / gas fired power stations. Carbon Offsetting is not a bad thing, in fact it can be very positive - it's just been done in the past by the wrong methods (planting trees and treadle pumps), by the wrong people (those looking to make a quick buck). Open your eyes and take another look.... It think it’s been generally accepted that planting trees as carbon offsets is naïve sadly. A nice idea, but a little behind the times.

I really think that carbon offsetting can make a difference. I only offset using high quality CER-based carbon offsets from companies such as http://www.clear-offset.com/ essentially allow private individuals to invest in green technologies that wouldn’t necessarily make commercial sense otherwise.

If the powers that can’t build a biomass plant or hydro dam as it’s too expensive, then have a guess what they’re going to build instead – yup, yet more coal / oil / gas fired power stations.

Carbon Offsetting is not a bad thing, in fact it can be very positive – it’s just been done in the past by the wrong methods (planting trees and treadle pumps), by the wrong people (those looking to make a quick buck). Open your eyes and take another look….

]]> By: Way to Go Green http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-38123 Way to Go Green Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:27:25 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-38123 Wind Power is very popular around here. There are several large wind farms within 15 miles and several home owners that produce their own wind power. Thanks for writing about carbon offsets. Wind Power is very popular around here. There are several large wind farms within 15 miles and several home owners that produce their own wind power. Thanks for writing about carbon offsets.

]]> By: SexyNewz » Blog Archive » Cheat Offsetting http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-6178 SexyNewz » Blog Archive » Cheat Offsetting Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:27:01 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-6178 [...] to Global Warming: Fact or Fiction? for this [...] [...] to Global Warming: Fact or Fiction? for this [...]

]]> By: Nick http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-6025 Nick Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:36:27 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-6025 Carbon offsets are a joke. CO2 isn't the claimed problem, it is temperature increases that are the problem. That's why the alarmists don't want to address temperature directly, but indirectly. They know that the link between CO2 and temperature is tenuous, but they know that CO2 will carry on rising, so they make the tax on CO2, not a direct tax on the problem. The second main issue, is where are the tax refunds when the temperatures don't rise in line with forecasts. The latest scare stories of 0.6C per decade are just fairy stories, not born out at all by any evidence. Nick Carbon offsets are a joke.

CO2 isn’t the claimed problem, it is temperature increases that are the problem.

That’s why the alarmists don’t want to address temperature directly, but indirectly.

They know that the link between CO2 and temperature is tenuous, but they know that CO2 will carry on rising, so they make the tax on CO2, not a direct tax on the problem.

The second main issue, is where are the tax refunds when the temperatures don’t rise in line with forecasts.

The latest scare stories of 0.6C per decade are just fairy stories, not born out at all by any evidence.

Nick

]]> By: admin http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-6019 admin Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:26:06 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-6019 Also, any twist that makes sense is almost surely not going to survive Congress!! Also, any twist that makes sense is almost surely not going to survive Congress!!

]]> By: tim maguire http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-6014 tim maguire Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:43:15 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-6014 That's a twist that may make it workable. Requiring power companies to buy their offsets from other power companies would give the lower-producing company an advantage, thereby creating an incentive to reduce carbon output to either reduce the number of credits needed for purchase or increase the number available for sale. But the initial rationing of carbon credits will almost certainly be frought with corruption and manipulation. That’s a twist that may make it workable. Requiring power companies to buy their offsets from other power companies would give the lower-producing company an advantage, thereby creating an incentive to reduce carbon output to either reduce the number of credits needed for purchase or increase the number available for sale. But the initial rationing of carbon credits will almost certainly be frought with corruption and manipulation.

]]> By: admin http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-6010 admin Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:21:19 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-6010 Tim - I completely agree with you. Carbon offsets do not seem to be a solution to any problem that may be occurring except for the lack of money in someone's pockets. In my opinion, carbon trading only works if you limit the market to like industries e.g. utilities can only trade with utilities, automotive companies could only trade with automotive companies, chemical plants could only trade with chemical plants, etc. At least in that way, there would be much more incentive to catch up and reduce the expenses you are giving to your competitor. Tim – I completely agree with you. Carbon offsets do not seem to be a solution to any problem that may be occurring except for the lack of money in someone’s pockets. In my opinion, carbon trading only works if you limit the market to like industries e.g. utilities can only trade with utilities, automotive companies could only trade with automotive companies, chemical plants could only trade with chemical plants, etc. At least in that way, there would be much more incentive to catch up and reduce the expenses you are giving to your competitor.

]]> By: tim maguire http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/comment-page-1/#comment-5993 tim maguire Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:10:50 +0000 http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2008/08/07/carbon-offset-cheat-offset/#comment-5993 Seems problematic. If I buy a cheat offset, can the guy who sold it to me sleep with my wife? Who does he need to be faithful to? My problem with carbon offsets is that if we are facing catastrophic global warming and our CO2 production level needs to be reduced by some crazy amount to save life as we know it on this planet, then isn't it counter productive to create a "indulgences" system whereby some people can, with a clear conscience, continue to dump excessive amounts of carbon into the environment? Is it really useful to pay third world nations to remain mired in poverty and third world life-styles? Same with the cheating offset--they MAY serve some functon in reducing the growth of undesirable behaviors, but they don't seem to contribute in any maeaningful way to the reduction of the harmful behaviors. Unless Al Gore can make money from it. Then it's ok. Seems problematic. If I buy a cheat offset, can the guy who sold it to me sleep with my wife? Who does he need to be faithful to?

My problem with carbon offsets is that if we are facing catastrophic global warming and our CO2 production level needs to be reduced by some crazy amount to save life as we know it on this planet, then isn’t it counter productive to create a “indulgences” system whereby some people can, with a clear conscience, continue to dump excessive amounts of carbon into the environment? Is it really useful to pay third world nations to remain mired in poverty and third world life-styles?

Same with the cheating offset–they MAY serve some functon in reducing the growth of undesirable behaviors, but they don’t seem to contribute in any maeaningful way to the reduction of the harmful behaviors.

Unless Al Gore can make money from it. Then it’s ok.

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