Ridiculous Carbon Credit Summit
There’s a Press release out yesterday about another summit to “Focus on Structuring Carbon Credit Investments and Emissions Trading Strategies”. Can you believe that?
This is a summit for people to gather and discuss “investments” in this scam all over the world! It’s the Carbon Credit Huckster Summit! Even more amazing, it’s the SECOND one, so you know people made money on the first one!
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
I absolutely 100% agree. This does not REMOVE CO2 from the atmosphere. This carbon trading only moves the same amount of CO2 around the world, making fortunes for the ‘traders’ and ‘dealers’. In no way easing the situation just lining THEIR pockets.The whole purpose of alerting the world to the causes of, and cures for, Global Warming is to preserve the environment, the World, and the future of our children, grandchildren and so on, and to encourage less dependence on finite resources such as oil etc.
These people should invest their money in technology that CURES the problem, and encourages resource recovery. They’ll still make their millions, but at least it is with CARBON REDUCTION as the prime purpose, and not just the ‘fast buck’ syndrome.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Thanks for the comment - This coming from a DOCTOR?
September 9th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Look, I know the goal of carbon reduction is to save the environment. But so say these people are money hungry traders looking for a quick buck is insult on your own intelligence.
The reason our environment is being degraded at the current rate is because our economy is base on consumption. The more we consume/produce the better the market. Carbon trading is the first step in putting value on environment and incorporating it into our economy. No its not the best way, but at least its a step in the right direction. We need to start valuing everything in our society. Free markets are beautiful thing, because the reflect the price our society puts on it. By putting a value on something that harms the environment we are moving toward reducing carbon.
Don’t criticize other peoples efforts, unless you have a better way to do. Get a life.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I was so thrilled to find this site! Finally, finally some straight talk!
I have to deal with this crap in my government job and I just hate it. Carbon credits are a huge scam and everybody wants a part of the action.
I try sometimes not to get 1000% discouraged and tell myself that maybe, maybe, despite all the blatant self-interest of the “green” wheeler-dealers, something a little good might come out of all the hypocrisy, but I am not at all convinced.
The absolute worst carbon credits are soil carbon, but I say that because I know the ag soil side, maybe the forestry is even worse.
Research shows that no-till does not increase C sequestration in soils of eastern N America, but models show it should, so we use the models.
They are now trying to get credits for putting on less N fertilizer, even though the biggest reason to use less N fertilizer is that it can be more profitable to use less.
Everybody just wants to cash in, I have yet to see anyone seriously interested in the environment without having a personal agenda for $ or career advancement.
I suppose I should change my specialty at work, but then again it is useful to know the enemy. I just don’t want to sleep with him! He smells bad!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I have only just managed to log on to the site again after several months, and really pleased to see the contribution from Suzie.
My reponse is to Brandon - Yes I have a better way. You say that our economy is based on consumption - well with consumption comes waste. I am an environmental consultant and applied microbiologist and have been for over 40 years - my life has been developing and designing systems to convert waste into energy (biogas), organic fertilizer and single cell protein as animal and aquaculture feed additive. The plants around the world installed to my designs are saving over 50 million tons of C02 equivalents per year, converting animal manures, food & drink processing wastes, biofuel production residues, and many other organic wastes into valuable by-products - including recyclable water - another valuable resource. Total value of resources recovered is approx. $150 million per year, with an ROI (Return on Investment) of around 1 year. This is where the money in Carbon Credit trading should be invested, and that’s where the real value lies, not in a pseudo commodity.
So don’t tell me to get a life.
Carbon Credits are a ‘cop out’
Dennis Evers
October 10th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Glad you read me Dennis! I have never commented on anything before, but I rant on and on about this subject since I work in it all day and I can never put into print what I really think.
Somebody should read the fine print about the recently released plan for the Western Climate Initiative. The governors and premiers are all patting themselves on the back for their tough stance. Meanwhile, they are going to allow 49%!!! of the reductions to be compensated for with our favorites, carbon credits and from those all time favorites, ag, forests and municipal wastes.
Everyone wants to glom on to those great western states with their big expanses of land which are magically solving the problem by soaking up carbon as we speak (or type). Even if we scoff at the science to support these claims, if they are soaking up carbon, great, but that’s no excuse to not make other efforts to find alternatives to fossil fuels, regardless of climate change.
Good for you Dr. Evers, real investments like you are promoting give real benefits and I have nothing against carbon credits for real actions. But when they count on 49% of their reductions from ag, forestry, and municipal wastes, we know they aren’t counting on things like you describe, that costs $$$.
And when you read the claims for the WCI about the “economic analysis” to see how much this will cost, I want to fall over laughing.
I know how the “economic analysis” is being done by my government,— totally, totally, totally absurd. Nobody has the slightest idea, there is no data, but they will come up with numbers. If the politicians like them, they will use them, if not, they will change the numbers.
Keep up your efforts Mr. Evers. I will keep protesting government waste, but I have found out when efforts to channel gov money towards practical things get in the way of those who want big splashy expenses which increase their power and prestige, the top dogs group together to do what they want.
Amazing how totally squeaky clean our gov. is at the bottom levels, we are constantly checked up, we have to spend every dime correctly. But it is the big $$$ expenses which are never questioned. The people at the top are untouchable, unless someone even higher needs a fall guy.
Encourage integrity! What are we without it?