Global Warming and CO2 Emissions Blog

Public Radio International's program The World did a segment today on the growing trend by consumer's to purchase carbon credits as a means for offsetting emissions from activities like air travel. You can listen to the show by clicking here.

Carbon credits are meant to offset the greenhouse gas pollution of jets by funding renewable energy projects. However, the "vendors" of these carbon credits do not always provide clear details explaining how these funds will actually be put to use.

• What types of carbon offset projects does your organization fund? Some services plant trees. Others subsidize solar power systems.
• What is the cost per ton of offset carbon dioxide? Current prices vary from US$4-30 per metric ton. So your dollars will be more effective with a lower $/ton.
  
• What are the specific projeccts that your organization is currently funding?
• Are these projects already viable or are my dollars necessary make sure they happen? Make sure your dollars are being invested in projects that need community support, as opposed to those that are already sufficiently supported by governments and large organizations.
  
• How much of the dollar amount purchased will actually go to the carbon neutralization project? Just like with charitable donations, it's a good idea to know how efficiently your dollars will be used. Purchase credits from organizations that have a solid track record of getting a high percentage of the dollars received in to carbon offset projects.
  

If you'd like to learn more about purchasing carbon credits, here are a few links to 3rd-party resources that may help you evaluate your options:

• Ecosystem Marketplace Carbon Credit Pricing Trends
  
• EcoBusinessLink's Carbon Offset Price Survey
• Ask the Climate Expert's Flying Green with Expedia and Travelocity
• Ask the Climate Expert's Where Should I Go to Become Carbon Neutral?

Labels: carbon dioxide emissions, environmental activism, global warming