Carbon Offsetting
Carbon Offsetting is the term given to a mechanism which seeks to counter-balance carbon emissions through either the sequestration of carbon in biomass or through the purchase of ‘carbon credits’ on the international market.
The latter system has been widely promoted by the countries with the biggest per capita carbon footprints. The idea is that carbon credits or ‘negative carbon’ can be purchased from countries which have successfully reduced their own carbon footprint to below their Kyoto target. This might sound quite a good idea but in reality it amounts to little more than carbon musical chairs. Overall, it has the effect of encouraging the worst offenders (among them Ireland, the US, Australia and Luxembourg) to continue their bad practices as long as there are carbon credits to be obtained on the global market. It allows the carbon defaulters a possible means of buying their way out of trouble without addressing the cause of the problem. In short, business as usual.
Writer George Monbiot compares carbon offsets to the practice of purchasing indulgences during the Middle Ages, whereby people with money could purchase forgiveness for their sins (instead of actually repenting and not sinning anymore). In an article published in the Guardian 18th October 2006, Monbiot describes how one travel company-Travelcare- sells the offsetting mantra to its customers. For an investment of the princely sum of €4.50 (£3), apparently, one may fly to Spain with a clear conscience.
Unfortunately, how this money can help offset the carbon emissions of flying is not explained. No breakdown is provided showing how what percentage of the carbon offset tariff actually finds its way into worthwhile projects in the developed world.One suspects very little. But even were all of it to be spent on reforestation projects or on the widely heralded ‘efficient cooking stoves’ initiatives in Central America, how many years of using an efficient cooking stove by a family living at subsistence level in the Guatemalan highlands would it take to claw back the emissions resulting from one flight to the Canaries?
Would any carbon 'savings' made not be better reinvested in projects in the same developing countries aimed at raising the standard of living or quality of life? It is a horrible thought that the basic humanitarian needs of the worlds poor are now being cynically exploited in order to sell more foreign holidays.
See: http://www.monbiot.com/achives/2006/10/19/selling-indulgences
Carbon Sequestration
In theory this sounds a great idea. Trees sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. The carbon becomes bound up in the cellular structure wood and remains there until the tree dies or is burnt. Certainly, the planting of more trees will take some of the atmospheric carbon dioxide out of circulation, though overall the quantities involved are likely to be small.
Whether this will help reduce the likelihood of catastrophic global warming however is not clear. Tree cover can also increase the ability of the earth to absorb solar radiation, leading to further localised warming. Studies carried out by the Carnegie Institute suggest that increased tree cover at high latitudes may result in a net warming, while at tropical latitudes it will result in cooling. At temperature latitudes there is little change.
All the arguments in favour of carbon sequestration in afforestation projects are contingent on the forests themselves remaining in place permanently. Once the trees are cut down, the carbon is released to the atmosphere again. Perhaps not surprisingly, planting trees to offset carbon emissions has been widely touted by the fossil fuel and travel sectors. A whole new industry has developed in order to help people find ways to justify air travel and other high carbon footprint activities.
Among the corporate organisations enthusiastically devoting itself to offsetting projects is that well known steward of the environment British Petroleum (BP). According to BP, the carbon footprint of an average years motoring can be offset for just €30 (£20) which BP will then invest wisely on your behalf in projects in the developing world. Using the same rational, an additional investment of a few more euro will presumably compensate for upsizing to an SUV.
Unfortunately, its just a complete scam. We are witnessing the emergence of the carbon launderers who - if the price is right - will steal from the future to 'pay off' exisiting carbon debts.
We do not believe there is one single company offering carbon offsetting in a manner which is fully transparent and honest, in which current emissions can be immediately offset by investment in sequestration or carbon reduction schemes. While we acknowledge we could be wrong - that unknown to us there could be a company somewhere which is doing exactly that - we believe the burden of proof should be on the companies offering offsetting services.
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