Source: Pete’s place on Global Warming
This is just the kind of financial scandal I’ve been predicting is going to happen with the ongoing push to stop global warming and climate change. The idea of an individual or corporation buying “carbon offsets” (like planting trees, installing solar or wind power) so they can continue “polluting” (releasing carbon dioxide) is just about the most ridiculous thing I can think of.

There are numerous flaws in this concept. First, is the notion that you can “sin all week long”, as long as you go to Church on Sunday and put a hefty contribution into the collection basket. Does that mean the rich are the only people who are going to be forgiven? Are people really that shallow that they can soothe their guilty consciences this way? Secondly, it is very clear that reducing carbon dioxide emissions has a near-zero hope of stopping global warming and climate change. Does anyone not realize that these costs are going to be passed on to the consumer? Think again, this will just like an added, hidden tax. Finally, do you know who is going to benefit from this? The middle-man, the broker, the sellers of the “carbon credits”. And of course the makers and installers of solar panels and windmills will benefit. So a lot of people stand to make money from this, so there will be supporters. A lot of people make money selling “snake oil” too. Is this a fraud and a scam, or what? [more]