Archive for the ‘carbon offsets’ Category

Will your Candidate be Green enough? Do you know how they stand on the issues? Here’s a peek…

John McCain

• Believes that climate change is real and that greenhouse gases are damaging the environment, but even if the science cannot prove it, doing nothing is not an option.
• Introduced Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 .
• Committed to using Nuclear Power, conservation, and new technologies.
• Would sign a Global treaty but has to include both India and China.

Hillary Clinton

• Would develop new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, focusing on global deforestation.
• New mission for Department of Energy would be to move in the direction of energy independence towards solar, wind, bio-fuels, hydro-power, geothermal, and other renewable sources.
• Market based cap and trade system to reduce carbon pollution, including efficiency and fuel economy standards, to lower the U.S. contribution to Global Warming below the 1990 levels by 80%.
• Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• Fund new research by taking away subsidies from the Oil Companies and putting that money to work in the Alternative Energy Field.
• Believes turning the focus on Green Building and Alternative Energy could create millions of jobs for the American Economy that could not easily be outsourced.

Mike Huckabee

• Whether or not Humans have caused Global Warming or not, believes it is our responsibility to leave the planet in better condition for future generations.
• Would pursue all areas of alternative energy including Wind, Solar, Clean Coal, and Bio-diesel.
• Would put limits on Greenhouse gas emissions.
• Supports drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• Supports increasing offshore drilling.
• Would create a profitable market for alternative energy by making the government the biggest user.

Barak Obama

• Would implement an economy wide cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Proposes a new International Global Warming Partnership.
• Plans to introduce a National Low Carbon Standards (LCFS), to speed up the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels.
• Create a new Technology Transfer Program within the Dept. of Energy, who’s mission would be to export climate-friendly technologies to developing countries.
• Incentives to maintain forests globally and manage them sustainably.
• Domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers and ranchers for planting trees, restore grasslands and undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide.
• Believes the cap on emissions would create a market for Clean Technologies.
• Reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Source: CNN.com: Elections 2008

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bibi

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According to Wikipedia, Carbon Offsetting is the practice of paying for emission reductions to take place elsewhere instead of reducing one’s own emissions. A variety of Offset methods are used, and while Tree Planting is thought of as the most common because it was one of the first, Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation, and Methane Capture are also available.

Carbon Offsetting has practically become part of life as more and more people and companies become more aware of the damage we are imposing on the earth and try to find ways to lessen the effect of their emissions. Unfortunately it has become a business and often times Offsets have become a cheaper and more convenient way than trying to reduce one’s own Fossil Fuel consumption. Instead of trying to find ways not to emit Greenhouse Gasses, or reduce Fossil Fuel Consumption we use buy offsets because it’s easier.

After being accused by British Media of being a hypocrite for flying out to the United States to receive an Environmental Award, Prince Charles put on his thinking cap and came up a green alternative to attending the World Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi by 3D Hologram. That’s what I call reducing your footprint.

Are Carbon Offsets really the way to a greener, cleaner earth or are we just buying our way out of our responsibilities, so we don’t have to feel guilty.

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bibi

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