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Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? December 19, 2007

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Climate Change, ecotourism , 2comments del.icio.us:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? digg:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? newsvine:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? blinklist:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? furl:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? reddit:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? blogmarks:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution? Y!:Carbon offsets: should you buy absolution?

Some critics liken carbon offsetting - paying for emission reductions elsewhere instead of reducing one’s own carbon emissions - to “buying pardons from the Catholic church in 16th century Europe” [1]. Absolution. Guilt-free flying.

And yes, there are various, related ethical issues that you must resolve for yourself. If you’re not sure what I am writing about, take a look at CheatNeutral for amusing satirical commentary on the practice of offsetting your “sins”. However, if you are thinking that I am simply about to dismiss carbon offsetting as an immoral or impractical practice, please read on.

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