The time has arrived for me to explore the world of “carbon offsets” and I’m looking for advice on some good ways to do that. Here’s why: I am heading out today on a good old fashioned road trip — a big one — the boondocks, WV, Chicago, IL, Cleveland, OH, Portland, ME, and Atlantic City, NJ. I’m visiting clients and speaking at some fine events:
- 21st Annual National Conference Enhancing the States’ Lake Management Programs
- 2008 River Rally
- 2008 River Management Society Symposium
- 2008 National Water Quality Monitoring Conference
If you are going to be at any of these events, please introduce yourself.
It’s a lot of miles and a lot of pollution. I know there are organizations out there that can recommend an appropriate donation based on miles traveled, and will use that donation to plant trees or something like that. I have also heard vague rumors that some of these outfits are not legitimate.
So… do any of you have any recommendations?
Comments
Eric,
I’m heading up to River Rally in Ohio as well. Actually not too far from where I grew up. I’m looking forward to meeting you after reading your blog for the past year.
Jeff
The issue is “how do I want to allocate my (presumably finite) charitable donations this year”. Carbon offsets are simply a guilt-driven charitable donation. I prefer to let my passion for rivers, clean water and riparian habitat direct my charitable donations.
Addressing the issue of legitimacy, some offsets are pretty simple — give to wind industry and they displace fossil fuels, but you still don’t know whether they would have done it anyway. At the other extreme, give to tree planting and you need to know what happens if beetles or a forest fire negate your investment 50 yrs from now. Somebody in the offset credit industry ought to be insuring against such outcomes, but I haven’t seen much evidence that oversight is sufficient.
