Offset schemes reviewed
Offsetting damage to climate is no doubt a great way to postpone the real changes that need to be introduced across the developing world. The way that this is conducted in many cases has been widely criticised in terms of effectiveness, where some offset programs arguably do not have the intended impact.
On UK Channel 4 Dispatches, a new program “The Great Green Smoke Screen” highlights some of the main concerns about how solutions to global warming are marketed to consumers, sometimes with exaggerated declarations of effectiveness. Offsetting air travel emissions through planting one tree per flight is one example discussed. Reforestation however has short term benefits, and the real impact of planting trees to offset emissions has been criticised.
A BBC article describes MPs’ views on carbon offset schemes.
The Commons committee’s chairman, Conservative MP Tim Yeo, said suspicion over the effectiveness of offsetting schemes threatened to undermine any potential environmental gains.
“A lack of regulation and transparency in the market is allowing some schemes to be promoted which do not achieve acceptable outcomes,” he observed.
“This is a pity in view of the contribution offsetting can make to tackling climate change.”
It goes on to explain how concern over regulations in this area has forced the UK government to introduce a code of practice by the end of the year, and with that, offset schemes will be far more effective.