Comments on: Matt Feldman – Choosing a Carbon Offset Provider http://greenguysglobal.com/blog/guest-editor-matt-feldman-choosing-a-carbon-offset-provider Men from all over the world sharing their views, ideas and experiences on living a more sustainable life Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:52:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Concerned Citizen http://greenguysglobal.com/blog/guest-editor-matt-feldman-choosing-a-carbon-offset-provider/comment-page-1#comment-2216 Concerned Citizen Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:21:37 +0000 http://greenguysglobal.com/blog/guest-editor-matt-feldman-choosing-a-carbon-offset-provider#comment-2216 It think it’s been generally accepted that planting trees as carbon offsets is naïve. It was originally a nice idea, but a little behind the times. http://www.agreenerfestival.com/pdfs/WWF-GP-FoE_on_offseting.pdf Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the World Wildlife Fund have all discounted it as a way off offsetting. However, 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. The other thing is that most CO2 calculations are based on the fact that a tree will offset some carbon over the next 100 years. Carbon Credit savings must have already happened to be sold. 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. It was originally a nice idea, but a little behind the times. http://www.agreenerfestival.com/pdfs/WWF-GP-FoE_on_offseting.pdf Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the World Wildlife Fund have all discounted it as a way off offsetting.

However, 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. The other thing is that most CO2 calculations are based on the fact that a tree will offset some carbon over the next 100 years. Carbon Credit savings must have already happened to be sold.

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: Martin Camilleri http://greenguysglobal.com/blog/guest-editor-matt-feldman-choosing-a-carbon-offset-provider/comment-page-1#comment-1892 Martin Camilleri Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:10:20 +0000 http://greenguysglobal.com/blog/guest-editor-matt-feldman-choosing-a-carbon-offset-provider#comment-1892 Is it possible to ensure that the carbon that is offset is offset locally? Can this be done via the planning system? Should carbon culprets be responsible for the addition to the carbon footprint of the immediate area (particularly with the construction of new buildings?) Thanks Martin Is it possible to ensure that the carbon that is offset is offset locally? Can this be done via the planning system? Should carbon culprets be responsible for the addition to the carbon footprint of the immediate area (particularly with the construction of new buildings?)

Thanks

Martin

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