Isn't the carbon credit scheme a lot like the catholic's church's sale of indulgences scam?

Question

Hey I know there are problems with the environment and all, but this carbon credit scam just doesn't pass the sniff test to me.

Answer 1

No, do you even know what an indulgence is?

Answer 2

They've taken a lot of cues from their predecessors to bring religion to those without it.  This is just one of them.

Answer 3

Is the bear Catholic..

Answer 4

Can be.  You have to consider two things.

Among large companies, capping CO2 and trading carbon credits makes a lot of sense.  The guy who can reduce CO2 cheapest does it, the guy who can't do it without spending big bucks buys the credits.  The scheme worked extremely well for reducing acid rain by trading SO2 credits.

Individuals buying carbon credits makes little technical sense.  That is pretty much like buying indulgences.

So, while carbon credits are not fundamentally bad, individuals buying them is pretty silly.  Among other things, the possibilities for scams is huge.  Trades among big companies are verifiable transactions.

Answer 5

Algore has invested in these companies and stands to make millions possibly billions if countries and big companies are forced to buy them one day when they can't meet future emissions regulations.  Just look at the countries unable to meet the Kyoto deadlines.  How do you think they will meet the deadlines?  Yep, you guessed it - buying carbon offsets from Algore.  Think there was a conflict of interest between his carbon offset investments and his fear-mongering movie?

The other issue is who is checking to make sure the carbon offset companies are really offsetting emissions?  My guess is that they are planting a few trees here and there and paying some shell companies to say they are reducing their emissions.  Somehow I doubt they are going to be able to offset the emissions of a whole freakin' country.

Answer 6

I agree, it seems like a legal way to keep on polluting.

Answer 7

Great analogy, fake way to deal with fake guilt over a fake issue.