Your Tax Dollars Buying Carbon Offsets

But the fly in the ointment is that remaining tonnage of CO2. The House decided to deal with those emissions by purchasing carbon offsets on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). The carbon offset concept has been kicking around for many years. It means that a firm, organization, or even a concerned individual who emits carbon can pay someone else to reduce emissions or capture carbon.

Some observers have likened voluntary carbon offsets to the Roman Catholic Church's 16th century practice of selling indulgences -- if you can afford the price, your environmental "sins" are canceled. But the analogy may be inapt. An offset is not just asking for forgiveness, assuaging an organization's guilt for carbon emissions. It is supposed to make environmental restitution, resulting in genuine environmental improvements.

That's why Congress should be all the more careful that its offsets are real, because they are being paid for with our money.

See article here

I have no problem with the concept of carbon offsets. I do have a problem with the effectiveness of it right now. It seems the whole "Green" thing has become the "dotcom" of the late 90's. Lets all jump on the bandwagon and make some money. I have no problem with the entrepreneur spirit, what I do have a problem with is the "quick buck" spirit. And because "Green" is trendy now, we see something "Green" we buy it, use it, or endorse it with little to no research at all. Now our tax dollars are buying carbon offsets from a company that is not transparent in their dealings. So where exactly is my/our money going. It should be really easy for carbon offset companies to be transparent:

1. Your money went to administration costs with details of those costs.
2. Your money went to plant trees in this area of the world with details.
3. Your money went to this farmer with details.

It is an uncomplicated exchange.