Can Carbon Offsetting Programs Stop Climate Change?

Many of our daily activities, like making a cup of coffee and driving to work, create toxic green house gases.  Every year 25 billion tonnes of climate altering greenhouse gas emissions are pumped out into our atmosphere.  In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions an increasing number of companies and people are participating in carbon offsetting programs in order to become carbon neutral.

 

In order to become carbon neutral a person or company must pay a fee towards an environmentally friendly practice in order to offset their emissions.  For example Air Canada passengers who whish to make their flight carbon neutral pay an extra fee, which goes towards reforestation.  By planting a certain number of trees, depending on the distance of the flight, which trap carbon and create oxygen passengers emissions can be neutralized.

 

However critics of carbon offsetting programs worry that some people may use offsetting as a conscious free license to pollute.  Many climate change experts believe that only large cuts to greenhouse gas emissions will be effective and that carbon caps are a more viable solution.  Climate change experts hope people will reduce their carbon emissions, by driving less or using energy efficient appliances, instead of just paying off their energy indulgences.

 

(All cited figures and quotes are from The Globe and Mail, July 14)