Carbon credits?

[Yeagermeister]

I keep hearing about these so called carbon credits that Al Gore is pushing, btw he's also the CEO of one of the companies that sell them. What the heck are these things? It sounds like the newest pet rock too me.

[AtlCB]

I keep hearing about these so called carbon credits that Al Gore is pushing, btw he's also the CEO of one of the companies that sell them. What the heck are these things? It sounds like the newest pet rock too me.Basically, you can buy these carbon credits from a company to pay for all of the carbon that you produce by driving your car, burning natural gas at home, or using electricity. The company takes part of the money it receives from you and pays people to plant trees or pays companies who use less electricity than their quota or pays companies to add some technology that will make them more efficient or pollute less.

[Yeagermeister]

Basically, you can buy these carbon credits from a company to pay for all of the carbon that you produce by driving your car, burning natural gas at home, or using electricity. The company takes part of the money it receives from you and pays people to plant trees or pays companies who use less electricity than their quota or pays companies to add some technology that will make them more efficient or pollute less.

Yeah like I though.....a new pet rock

Thanks

[Danny White]

I have "infidelity" credits where I pay some guy to be faithful to his wife and then I'm allowed to screw around. ;)

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think the whole thing is a money issue.

You want to be responsible...how about going out one weekend and helping a group plant some trees somewhere.

How about signing up for adopt a highway and helping clean up some litter.

If you are building a business or home, think about doing it with some materials that are environmental friendly.

Think about helping the recycling effort by separating your garbage and taking plastics, papers or aluminum to recycling centers.

Buy recyclable or environmental friendly products.

Donate money or time to good, what YOU consider good, environmental causes.

How about doing things of that nature.

But that is just my take...Just don't trust that whole carbon credit thing where you go to someone else and never know what is done afterwards.

[sacase]

I keep hearing about these so called carbon credits that Al Gore is pushing, btw he's also the CEO of one of the companies that sell them. What the heck are these things? It sounds like the newest pet rock too me.

Just one of the reasons why Global Warming so such a big issue. There is money in it. In other words, SCAM.

[Rackat]

I have *friend* that wants to by moral turpitude credits to offset his topless bar visits. I'm thinking of setting up a company. Anyone want to invest? :laugh2:

[sacase]

I have "infidelity" credits where I pay some guy to be faithful to his wife and then I'm allowed to screw around. ;)

Can I get some of those? I would be a big investor....LOL :bow:

[Yeagermeister]

Just one of the reasons why Global Warming so such a big issue. There is money in it. In other words, SCAM.

If celebs are the ones that are for it that usually tells me it's crap. :D

They live in a make believe world and wouldn't know what the real world is....and I don't mean the tv show. :D

[AtlCB]

Gentlemen,

I would like to bring to your attention the problem of lust. Lust is a sin, and I know many of you watched the Obama girls vs. Giuliani girls video. I have started a business selling lust credits. For a mere $100, you can watch the video up to twenty-five times and be covered. You can lust after the women all you want for the first twenty-five viewings!!!! This deal is a substantial savings over the $7.50 lust cost per individual viewing. I paid $100 and my conscience is now clear, and I can still watch the video another eight times.

[Yeagermeister]

Gentlemen,

I would like to bring to your attention the problem of lust. Lust is a sin, and I know many of you watched the Obama girls vs. Giuliani girls video. I have started a business selling lust credits. For a mere $100, you can watch the video up to twenty-five times and be covered. You can lust after the women all you want for the first twenty-five viewings!!!! This deal is a substantial savings over the $7.50 lust cost per individual viewing. I paid $100 and my conscience is now clear, and I can still watch the video another eight times.

Thank you Bill Clinton :D

[Sasquatch]

I believe it's about trying to use market mechanisms--the exchange of carbon credits--to induce companies to find profitable ways to reduce their emissions instead of the old-fashioned heavy handed government interventionism. Companies that improve their efficiencies are rewarded because they will have quantities of "credits" that they don't need for themselves that they can sell to others.

[bbgun]

Basically, its a way for the super-rich ecomaniacs to continue flying in their private jets, riding in their gas-guzzling limousines, and heating their five mansions without having to scale back on energy usage or their pampered lifestyles. That way, the fatcats can continue to live high on the hog while preaching at the rest of us. How? By supposedly planting a tree halfway across the world. Naturally, it's a complete and total fraud:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/consumer/caring/article.html?in_article_id=416353&in_page_id=511

http://www.jayreding.com/archives/2007/02/11/buying-indulgences-for-the-21st-century/

In the words of Instapundit: "I'll start acting as if it's a crisis when the people who are telling me it's a crisis start acting as if it's a crisis."

[Seven]

Basically, its a way for the super-rich ecomaniacs to continue flying in their private jets, riding in their gas-guzzling limousines, and heating their five mansions without having to scale back on energy usage or their pampered lifestyles. That way, the fatcats can continue to live high on the hog while preaching at the rest of us. How? By supposedly planting a tree halfway across the world. Naturally, it's a complete and total fraud:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/consumer/caring/article.html?in_article_id=416353&in_page_id=511

http://www.jayreding.com/archives/2007/02/11/buying-indulgences-for-the-21st-century/

In the words of Instapundit: "I'll start acting as if it's a crisis when the people who are telling me it's a crisis start acting as if it's a crisis."


:clap: :clap2: :hammer: Preach it brother bb. Somebody give me an "Amen Brother!"

[Crown Royal]

Soooo....a modern day way of buying Indulgences?

[AtlCB]

Soooo....a modern day way of buying Indulgences?

Correct!

[BrAinPaiNt]

Correct!

Similar to how or why the idea of Purgatory was introduced long ago.:D

[AbeBeta]

Soooo....a modern day way of buying Indulgences?

I agree in that it does but indulgence for some. But I also feel that paying to offset your carbon use does make a decent contribution -- if some super rich person wants to pay 500k a year to plant trees or help develop better technology then isn't that better than doing nothing at all?

So many people hate to be inconvenienced in any manner and this is a way that people can make an environmental impact simply by buying something over the internet.

[AtlCB]

I agree in that it does but indulgence for some. But I also feel that paying to offset your carbon use does make a decent contribution -- if some super rich person wants to pay 500k a year to plant trees or help develop better technology then isn't that better than doing nothing at all?

So many people hate to be inconvenienced in any manner and this is a way that people can make an environmental impact simply by buying something over the internet.You could just donate to the same organization that is doing the research and bypass a significant amount of administrative costs.

[BrAinPaiNt]

I agree in that it does but indulgence for some. But I also feel that paying to offset your carbon use does make a decent contribution -- if some super rich person wants to pay 500k a year to plant trees or help develop better technology then isn't that better than doing nothing at all?

So many people hate to be inconvenienced in any manner and this is a way that people can make an environmental impact simply by buying something over the internet.

Yes but does someone have to go through a Carbon Credit business to do that?

See what I am saying is if you want to help the environment and be environmental friendly there are many things you can do on your own without going through some business.

Why give some business 500K, when they are going to pocket some of that money for operating expenses and other areas, when you could do something within your community?

How about going to your local (city or county) leaders.

Ask to see if you can start a project where one day everyone in the town, county or district High Schools has a day where the teachers, students, faculty plant some trees somewhere.

You provide the trees, transportation and other logistics.

The project educates your young people in the community. It gives them a sense of contributing to a better environment. You also have the idea of a community working together. You get to see the progress first hand.

So you are doing many things here.
You are helping the environment.
You are helping educate the youth...No not making them tree huggers.
Getting the youth and community involved in a worthy project.
Instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment in the youth and community.
Seeing the results first hand.
Know for a fact how your money was spent.
Not give even an ounce of chance that your money is being pocketed.

I think that is a far better way to give back instead of going through some company.

[Sasquatch]

Despite the banter here, carbon credits provide a way to limit emissions without heavy-handed government regulations that establish universal standards for everyone. Efficient companies that reduce their pollution while remaining profitable will benefit from being able to sell the credits they do not need to companies whose pollution exceeds their limit. Isn't that how we want government to work--establish basic rules that reflect the values of our society and then let the market do its thing? It sounds like a pretty innovative and flexible way of addressing the issue to me.

[Yeagermeister]

Despite the banter here, carbon credits provide a way to limit emissions without heavy-handed government regulations that establish universal standards for everyone. Efficient companies that reduce their pollution while remaining profitable will benefit from being able to sell the credits they do not need to companies whose pollution exceeds their limit. Isn't that how we want government to work--establish basic rules that reflect the values of our society and then let the market do its thing? It sounds like a pretty innovative and flexible way of addressing the issue to me.

Sounds like a way to line Gore's pockets and allow him to not practice what he preaches to me.

[AbeBeta]

You could just donate to the same organization that is doing the research and bypass a significant amount of administrative costs.

Again, carbon credit organizations make it easy to do so.

What is easier -- going to carboncredit.org and paying them with a click or two OR researching what organization you want to donate to and then figuring out how to do so?

People complain bitterly about inconvenience -- WAH, it is so hard to separate aluminum cans from regular trash, WAH, the bus only comes every half hour, WAH, compact florescent bulbs can't be thrown in the garbage. It goes on and on. Companies come along and make certain actions more convenient -- isn't that the way that things should work?

[AbeBeta]

Sounds like a way to line Gore's pockets and allow him to not practice what he preaches to me.

He doesn't have the monopoly on carbon credits nor is it reasonable to believe that Gore's long-term environmental interests have all been some sort of scheme to make money on environmental products. All politicians are interested in $ - why that surprises anyone is beyond me.

How is this any different from Haliburton or various oil interests benefiting from other actions?

[AbeBeta]

Yes but does someone have to go through a Carbon Credit business to do that?

See what I am saying is if you want to help the environment and be environmental friendly there are many things you can do on your own without going through some business.

Why give some business 500K, when they are going to pocket some of that money for operating expenses and other areas, when you could do something within your community?

How about going to your local (city or county) leaders.

Ask to see if you can start a project where one day everyone in the town, county or district High Schools has a day where the teachers, students, faculty plant some trees somewhere.

You provide the trees, transportation and other logistics.

The project educates your young people in the community. It gives them a sense of contributing to a better environment. You also have the idea of a community working together. You get to see the progress first hand.

So you are doing many things here.
You are helping the environment.
You are helping educate the youth...No not making them tree huggers.
Getting the youth and community involved in a worthy project.
Instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment in the youth and community.
Seeing the results first hand.
Know for a fact how your money was spent.
Not give even an ounce of chance that your money is being pocketed.

I think that is a far better way to give back instead of going through some company.

See my post about convenience. People give back in a number of manners. If I'm a super rich guy, I can probably do more by giving 500k than by donating a few hours of my time -- What is more valuable -- 40 hours of volunteer work or 500k?

[BrAinPaiNt]

See my post about convenience. People give back in a number of manners. If I'm a super rich guy, I can probably do more by giving 500k than by donating a few hours of my time -- What is more valuable -- 40 hours of volunteer work or 500k?

Why can you not be rich and ask someone in your community not associated with a business to make this happen?

Donate the 500k for the supplies and have that person you personally know do it with the help of your community.

Why would it have to go in the pocket of this or that corporation?

You essentially are cutting out a middle man and at the same time knowing what you are getting while getting your community involved even if you do not have the time to help them do it.

[AbeBeta]

Why can you not be rich and ask someone in your community not associated with a business to make this happen?

Donate the 500k for the supplies and have that person you personally know do it with the help of your community.

Why would it have to go in the pocket of this or that corporation?

You essentially are cutting out a middle man and at the same time knowing what you are getting while getting your community involved even if you do not have the time to help them do it.

You can do both -- but the rich -- and more importantly large corporations -- can make an impact monetarily that others cannot. Honestly, many people can make a far greater contribution by using their time to make $ rather than volunteering or spending time seeking out local organizations to donate to. I know a bunch of folks who work at small local organizations -- they would be completely overwhelmed to receive 500K as a donation. Many would have no idea how to manage that sort of donation.

Also, I think many posters here fail to note that many carbon offset organizations are non-profits. Carbonfund.org, Clean Air-Cool Planet, etc. Many of the other offset companies (e.g., nativeenergy) work with these non-profits which is why in most cases offsets are tax deductible.

[StanleySpadowski]

Sounds like a way to line Gore's pockets and allow him to not practice what he preaches to me.



Everytime I see Gore or hear the term "carbon offsets" I start thinking of Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Bakker.

How can people be so naive?

[jman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yeagermeister
Sounds like a way to line Gore's pockets and allow him to not practice what he preaches to me.



Everytime I see Gore or hear the term "carbon offsets" I start thinking of Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Bakker.

How can people be so naive?

Yes, but didn't Gore invent the internet?

[BrAinPaiNt]

Yes, but didn't Gore invent the internet?

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

You want an answer...there it is.

Never have cared for Gore but that old saying that is still around is proof positive that sometimes things are spun a way and people believe them years later.

[AtlCB]

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

You want an answer...there it is.

Never have cared for Gore but that old saying that is still around is proof positive that sometimes things are spun a way and people believe them years later.
IMO, this comment still isn't much better, since the internet idea was originally a creation of the military before Gore was ever in office.

[BrAinPaiNt]

IMO, this comment still isn't much better, since the internet idea was originally a creation of the military before Gore was ever in office.

I believe it, or he, was not talking about that.

He was talking about it, if memory serves, as a public utility and helping in that area.

If memory serves the military used an intranet not internet initially.

However I could be wrong.

Still the idea that something was spun from his comments and people still believe it to be fact is the point I was bringing up.

[jterrell]

I have "infidelity" credits where I pay some guy to be faithful to his wife and then I'm allowed to screw around. ;)

I want fat credits.

I wolf down 3 cheeseburgers and get some young guy to run 3 miles for me.

Everybody want so make a friggin buck.
:bang2:

Just be aware and not wasteful, that is all it takes.

[AtlCB]

I want fat credits.

I wolf down 3 cheeseburgers and get some young guy to run 3 miles for me.

Everybody want so make a friggin buck.
:bang2:

Just be aware and not wasteful, that is all it takes.I'll offer those to you. I will run 6-10 miles after work today. You can pay me to run 2 miles per cheeseburger. :laugh2:

[jterrell]

I believe it, or he, was not talking about that.

He was talking about it, if memory serves, as a public utility and helping in that area.

If memory serves the military used an intranet not internet initially.

However I could be wrong.

Still the idea that something was spun from his comments and people still believe it to be fact is the point I was bringing up.

yup, arpanet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

Gore is a smart guy with no common sense and a good heart but so much "causehead" he reminds you think of a 19 year old college girl in california.

He's too far left to be in touch with reality.

[BrAinPaiNt]

I want fat credits.

I wolf down 3 cheeseburgers and get some young guy to run 3 miles for me.

Everybody want so make a friggin buck.
:bang2:

Just be aware and not wasteful, that is all it takes.

I think I love you :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

But I don't think 3 miles will make a dent in my sizable flap jack backside.:laugh2:

[jman]

Originally Posted by jman
Yes, but didn't Gore invent the internet?
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

You want an answer...there it is.

Never have cared for Gore but that old saying that is still around is proof positive that sometimes things are spun a way and people believe them years later.

Then I stand correct about the "invent" part.

Really anyway, I thought pron "created" the internet...

[BrAinPaiNt]

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp



Then I stand correct about the "invent" part.

Really anyway, I thought pron "created" the internet...

pron didn't invent it...it CONTROLS it. <evil laugh>

[Crown Royal]

Gore is a smart guy with no common sense and a good heart but so much "causehead" he reminds you think of a 19 year old college girl in california.



What is causehead?

[BrAinPaiNt]

What is causehead?

Another name for someone who always has a "Cause".

Watch the movie PCU and the cause heads in it going around demonstrating for various causes.

[AbeBeta]

yup, arpanet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

Gore is a smart guy with no common sense and a good heart but so much "causehead" he reminds you think of a 19 year old college girl in california.

He's too far left to be in touch with reality.

Gore has been banging the environmental drum for a very very long time now - over 20 years in fact. To suggest that he's simply a "causehead" whose understanding of issues is similar to that of some ignorant child is silly. Say what you want about his politics, but anyone who suggests that he is uninformed or out of touch is projecting their own deficiencies on him.

[AtlCB]

Gore has been banging the environmental drum for a very very long time now - over 20 years in fact. To suggest that he's simply a "causehead" whose understanding of issues is similar to that of some ignorant child is silly. Say what you want about his politics, but anyone who suggests that he is uninformed or out of touch is projecting their own deficiencies on him.

You can watch his film and tell he is uninformed. Scientist who believe in man-made climate change have criticized the science in his movie.

[AbeBeta]

You can watch his film and tell he is uninformed. Scientist who believe in man-made climate change have criticized the science in his movie.

Many scientists also understand that you can't talk pure science to most audiences. Scientists should be able to criticize ANY portrayal of science to a popular audience because that portrayal will ALWAYS omit issues or wave hands over some difficult aspects of the discussion.

A Ph.D. in a field can always find some limitation in someone's presentation -- even the presentations of other Ph.D.s. That Gore's work can be criticized is no indication that he is ignorant on the topics.

[Crown Royal]

Many scientists also understand that you can't talk pure science to most audiences. Scientists should be able to criticize ANY portrayal of science to a popular audience because that portrayal will ALWAYS omit issues or wave hands over some difficult aspects of the discussion.

A Ph.D. in a field can always find some limitation in someone's presentation -- even the presentations of other Ph.D.s. That Gore's work can be criticized is no indication that he is ignorant on the topics.

I would never pretend that Gore is ignorant on an environmental topic. In fact, I would venture to say that he is more informed than I am.

That being said, I readily criticize his work based on the fact that it is blatant sophistry, a persuasive technique that I have zero tolerance for.