On carbon offsets

On carbon offsets

15 Oct 2007

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

I've been reading the whole back-and-forth about carbon offsets, and it seems strange to me that most (all?) of the ones I've seen fund projects that, while worthwhile, may or may not result in the promised emissions reduction. It seems that a simple way around this problem would be to buy actual emissions permits from an established carbon market like Europe. Are there any companies or organizations that would allow me to do this? (Yes, I already conserve about as much as is possible for me at the moment.)

Jane
Athens, Ga.

Dearest Jane,

We must fill in other readers. Wouldn't it be great if Jane could calculate how much carbon she still emits, and somehow remove that carbon from the atmosphere? She can't, but she can offset (maybe a better term would be compensate for) her carbon emissions by supporting projects that will reduce overall global carbon emissions. For example, she can give money to an organization building windmills, and the organization in turn guarantees that the wind power generated with her funds will replace equivalent carbon emissions to Jane's. Jane uses an emissions calculator provided by the company, and the company has a set fee per ton of "offset" carbon.

Stop the world -- I want to get offsets.

Image: iStockphoto

Carbon offsets are becoming a desirable green consumer product. They are a good thing insofar as they provide support for low-carbon infrastructure. They are a poor thing insofar as they become indulgences. As you no doubt know, buying offsets should in no way substitute for reducing your individual emissions, making good consumer decisions, and agitating for change. You do not get to buy an unnecessarily large car and try to make it OK by buying an offset, because the carbon your car produces is not removed. There are multiple business models at work in the carbon-offset market, and the regulations and oversight that do exist are not only diverse but also basically voluntary. It can be hard to know whether a company is reputable, and/or if their projects work.

Jane, I asked a professional climate pal about your Gristmill-induced concerns about offset shopping and buying European carbon credits, and received two interesting suggestions. The Voluntary Carbon Offsets Information Portal, of the Tufts Climate Initiative and the Stockholm Environment Institute, is a nice clear compilation of basic information about carbon offsets, their purpose, and when to consider using them (also great for the rest of you who are confused by my muy brief overview). They describe the criteria by which you should judge any company selling offsets, and evaluate and recommend 13 specific companies. Take what you've read in Gristmill and read the VCOIP information, and you may be able to make an offset shopping decision about which you feel solid.

Ask Umbra continues below

ADVERTISING POLICY

You also wondered about buying carbon emissions permits from the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. Another muy brief overview: the E.U. is behaving as a single emitting entity under the Kyoto Protocol, and has instituted a carbon credits trading scheme amongst member states to meet emissions reductions targets. An overall emissions ceiling has been set; permits, or allowances (EUAs), to emit have been auctioned and can be traded. The scheme does not include individual emitters, but my pal provided one source, a European organization that is buying the EUAs and retiring them from the market. The intention of that organization, TheCompensators, is to lower the overall E.U. emissions ceiling through reducing the availability of EUAs, and to involve individuals in the process. You can become a member of the group. I know absolutely nothing about these people other than what I read on the website, but at the very least it is a place to begin your search. I hope this helps.

Allowingly,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (7 comments)

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Carbon Offsets

It seems the idea of carbon offsets trading if in fact an international set of limits is adopted would be a good way to provide a mechanism to balance resources in an overall positive way to obtain a reduction that would be less of a burden to those least capable of investing in the means to reduce carbon emissions output.

But on an individual basis it seems much less productive compared to finding ways to actually reduce one's carbon footprint by adopting ways to use less energy by efficiencies that conserve while providing the same level of living benefits. For instance many Europeans enjoy a standard of living equal to or better than Americans but on average have a carbon footprint half that of Americans. Identifying the differences and why we in American use more carbon based energy would assist greatly in reducing our emissions without any substantive reduction in living standards.

David B. Brooks

by fotografx at 7:21 PM on 15 Oct 2007

cheat neutral

Anyone who thinks carbon offsetting is quite a good idea should visit www.cheatneutral.com where they hilariously tear the idea to shreds.

""At Cheatneutral, we believe that we should all try to reduce the amount we cheat on our partners, but we also realise that fidelity isn't always possible..."

by emigre at 3:57 AM on 16 Oct 2007

Carbon Correct!

Carbon neutral is an interesting goal - I appreciate the intent but question the execution. As an organization we decided to side step by providing a Carbon Correct option. In the Forest Guardians carbon offset program (http://fguardians.org/guardians/co2-calculate.asp), we plant trees to offset carbon emissions (maybe a 1:1 for offset but probably just a good approximation) but more importantly we restore the whole ecosystem. Restoring the ecosystem has three additional benefits The restored ecosystem is 1. a nursery for additional restoration, 2. a show case of what is possible is created on the ground, 3. a healthy ecosystem is a resilient ecosystem that can better withstand inevitable climate changes. With this program we have an immediate effect - carbon reduction, and a long term effect - ability to survive in the face of change.

by cnorton at 4:52 PM on 16 Oct 2007

CheatNeutral is silly

Cheating in a relationship hurts your significant other. In other words, its effects are local. CO2 emissions, on the other hand, only exert their effects globally. Your town doesn't warm up if it emits more carbon dioxide. The CheatNeutral comparison is incorrect and misleading.

by jaiagreen at 6:37 PM on 16 Oct 2007

Terra Preta

Imho, the best way for an individual to affect the CO2 balance is to make charcoal out of yard waste. Burning yard waste pollutes the air and composting yard waste releases CO2. By turning yard waste into charcoal, you are locking that Carbon into a form that will not degrade for hundreds of years. So plants suck the CO2 out of the air, and you lock it in the ground. The added benefit is a soil ammendment that is wonderful for plants. Look up Terra Preta for more info.

by freeztar at 10:48 AM on 17 Oct 2007

carbon offsets

Carbon offsets are a very real piece of the puzzle we need to complete in order to combat global warming effectively. They are what you can do about whatever carbon you really, really can't get rid of after you've avoided, reduced, fuel-switched, etc.

But David Brooks is right (though the funny people at cheat neutral are wrong) - if you just offset what you are doing without making changes in every area of your life style (down-sizing homes, vehicles, commutes, appliances, etc.) - you are cheating, and you are cheating all of us.

To find out more about which offsets really count, visit http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbon ...

Bill B.

by bburtis at 9:03 AM on 18 Oct 2007

go local

I suggest diverting your donation (equal to offset) from an unknown location to a local organization that is working to curb global warming.

by jpoo at 8:25 PM on 17 Dec 2007

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