Carbon Offsetting – It’s Just Hot Air

Like going to confession carbon offsetting is just a salve to the conscience, it doesn’t put wrongs right it just makes you feel better. 

A whole industry has been built around carbon offsetting and generally speaking it is the people involved in these operations and not climate change that have benefitted from CO2 offsetting. Even the British government, that had previously put a big effort into promoting it, has removed the link from its website to CO2 offsetting companies, whilst it reviews the efficacy of the companies it will accredit.

Here is what Friends of the Earth have to say on this topic – “Friends of the Earth, along with a number of other organisations, is becoming increasingly concerned that carbon offsetting is being used as a smoke-screen to ward off legislation and delay the urgent action needed to cut emissions and develop alternative low-carbon solutions. Offsets can even encourage businesses and people to continue with (or even increase) unnecessary polluting activities, promoting the mindset “I’ve offset so it’s OK to fly”, “I’ve offset so it’s alright to drive to work”, etc.”

The bottom line folks is that it is down to us as private individuals or as employees to do what we can, as we go about our daily lives, to ensure that we produce as little CO2 as possible.