Comments on: Wrangling over Carbon Offsets http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html Chronicling and Commenting on Human Progress Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:14:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Marisa Toccin http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html#comment-33212 Marisa Toccin Fri, 13 Jul 2007 20:49:04 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html#comment-33212 Anthony, I'm a national television news producer working on a story and came across your article during my research. The story deals with how many credit card issuers are now adding carbon offsets as a reward option. Basically, you can cash in rewards points to get a certificate. At Wells Fargo, when you cash in 5,000 points, you receive a $50 certificate from 3 Phases Energy which goes towards wind power. Citibank has a similar program. I'm wondering you ever did this or would consider using your credit card rewards points this way. I can be reached at mtoccin@newspronet.com. Thanks, Marisa Anthony,
I’m a national television news producer working on a story and came across your article during my research. The story deals with how many credit card issuers are now adding carbon offsets as a reward option. Basically, you can cash in rewards points to get a certificate. At Wells Fargo, when you cash in 5,000 points, you receive a $50 certificate from 3 Phases Energy which goes towards wind power. Citibank has a similar program. I’m wondering you ever did this or would consider using your credit card rewards points this way.
I can be reached at mtoccin@newspronet.com.
Thanks,
Marisa

]]> By: Anthony Kendall http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html#comment-11814 Anthony Kendall Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:46:22 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html#comment-11814 Excellent points, just look buying something on a credit card, you can't pay back the original price only. The idea of emissions interest is an interesting one, and one I don't think you could calculate that easily. Also, going carbon negative is, of course, the main objective of carbon credits in a broader market. I guess primarily going neutral is more the objective of household offsetting. Our consumption generates a huge amount of carbon, but currently I have seen no calculator that purports to estimate CO2 generation from products we purchase. Excellent points, just look buying something on a credit card, you can’t pay back the original price only. The idea of emissions interest is an interesting one, and one I don’t think you could calculate that easily.

Also, going carbon negative is, of course, the main objective of carbon credits in a broader market. I guess primarily going neutral is more the objective of household offsetting.

Our consumption generates a huge amount of carbon, but currently I have seen no calculator that purports to estimate CO2 generation from products we purchase.

]]> By: taoist http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html#comment-11806 taoist Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:22:31 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2007/03/wrangling-over-carbon-offsets.html#comment-11806 The way I see it, there are a couple problems with carbon credits to try and be "carbon neutral". The first problem is that by offering a price people can pay to supposedly offset their pollution, you encourage a mentality that it's okay to pollute as much as you want as long as you offset it at some future time. In order to compensate for this, the carbon credits need to offset not only the carbon generated, but the amount of damage being done in the time it takes for those carbon credits to be offset. The second critique I have is that the carbon credits should be used to get to a carbon negative state, not a carbon neutral state. The way I see it, there are a couple problems with carbon credits to try and be “carbon neutral”. The first problem is that by offering a price people can pay to supposedly offset their pollution, you encourage a mentality that it’s okay to pollute as much as you want as long as you offset it at some future time. In order to compensate for this, the carbon credits need to offset not only the carbon generated, but the amount of damage being done in the time it takes for those carbon credits to be offset.
The second critique I have is that the carbon credits should be used to get to a carbon negative state, not a carbon neutral state.

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