VitalAccurateThinking

Carnival of Carbon (Neutrality)

Here are several articles on Carbon Neutrality that I found today. Two regard the cultural phenonenon, one the a company and one skeptical of offset efficacy.

San Francisco's Carbon Neutral Opportunity

But the bottom line is that even if we as individuals sacrifice and cut back and sell our cars and stop air traveling and wear natural fibers and go vegan and just take a damn breath and enjoy life, governments at all levels will still be overconsuming, with no responsibility for their roles in climate change.

Individuals, families, and organizations can currently purchase carbon offsets. What if San Francisco passed a law to mandate purchase of carbon offsets for all our municipal carbon use, to make us America's first carbon neutral city?

The average American produces 10 tons of CO2 emissions per year. 25% of the total carbon emissions come from individuals, although that figure does not include consumer goods. The process of carbon offsets is simple: one pays a fee to nonprofits like carbonfund.org, SELF, or the Carbon Neutral Company. The money goes to support renewable energy resources and projects to encourage energy efficiency.

Be green - everybody's doing it

San Francisco (Fortune) -- Eco-consciousness appears to be hitting the mainstream. For years, it was only the truly committed, the painfully hip and the guiltily ashamed who were willing to stand up in public and say they were willing to do something for the environment.

Now environmentalism has gone way beyond the sandal-ista crowd. We just may be entering a time when everyone from average individuals to giant corporations to politicians of all ideologies agree that the evidence of environmental degradation is so overwhelming that it's finally time to act.

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Carbon neutrality is going to be the next big thing. Movie star Al Gore had promised to personally become carbon neutral and he is urging others to follow his lead.

How to be carbon neutral, though? It turns out it's as easy as writing a check. Various organizations will take your money and then go invest in planting trees, developing wind farms and other activities that "offset" the carbon dioxide you're responsible for creating.

It sounds a little nutty, and there is disagreement as to how well such a system works. But if you think about it, it's kind of a cool idea. Not all of us are cut out for driving Priuses, carrying burlap sacks to the market or putting on a sweater in our cold living rooms.

First Carbon Neutral Car Jul 20, 2006

DaimlerChrysler UK is working on a plan which means that all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated through the production process and the logistics chain of the smart ev, will be measured, reduced where possible and the remaining unavoidable emissions offset through a mixture of renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects which will save and absorb 1 tonne of CO2 for every tonne the smart ev produces. The offset projects will be located around the world, with one based in France, where the smart ev starts its life, and in the UK, where final assembly is undertaken by technology partner, Zytek Group.

The measurement of the CO2 emissions created by the production and logistics of the smart ev, or its ‘carbon footprint’, will be undertaken prior to the first customer deliveries in November 2006. The CarbonNeutral Company and DaimlerChrysler UK expect the smart ev will be confirmed as the world’s first CarbonNeutral car, as well as being powered by green electricity and having zero emissions.

UK using carbon offsetting instead of reducing emissions

UK companies need to measure and manage their carbon emissions more effectively, according to new research* published today.

Many claim to be moving towards carbon "neutrality", often by investing in tree planting schemes aiming to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But there is concern that companies may be using these offsetting schemes for public relations purposes, and to disguise a failure to reduce emissions through energy efficiency measures.

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Then there are offsetting schemes, which include Kyoto-compliant and voluntary schemes. The former are useful for companies regulated by the EU ETS, but subject to restricted supply and relatively high set up costs.

The voluntary schemes, which often issue carbon credits in return for planting trees, have become increasingly popular but there is debate about their effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions.

The report notes that absorbing the UK's annual greenhouse gas emissions "would require planting an area the size of Devon and Cornwall every year".

posted by Jim VAT @ 6:32 PM