Q & A: Carbon Offsetting

Who is offsetting carbon? Companies, politicians, celebrities and individuals are all offsetting their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits. All of the UK government and Royal Family air travel is offset. Celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Dave Matthews and George Clooney are offsetting and working in activist roles against global warming. Companies such as Honda, Avis, Barclays, DHL, and HSBC are leading the way to becoming carbon neutral. Marks and Spencers has a £200m budget to go carbon neutral which will involve reducing emissions and buying offsets. The Lonely Planet and Rough Guides travel book company offset the flights that their staff make in compiling their guides.

Why is carbon offsetting in the news? The UK government has launched proposals for a bill that will make it the world leader in carbon reduction. It is setting legally binding laws that should reduce the UK's carbon output by 60% by 2050. Offsetting is not just a trend that will come and go in popular culture. Being carbon neutral is a new social value that is being integrated into our society, and being implemented on a global scale through the Kyoto agreement. Just as the industrial revolution changed our world forever, so will environmental accountability.

How do offsets work? Offsetting carbon is an arrangement where industrialised countries invest emission reducing projects in developing countries as an alternative to more costly reductions in their own country. Carbon credits are managed by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol which makes countries that sign the agreement to be legally accountable to environmental laws.

The aim is to drive the price of green technology below the price of dirty technology, so that subsidies are not needed. Money it used to fund carbon reducing projects such as developing renewable energy like wind and solar power, improving polluting energy plants, and planting carbon sinks such as forests. The idea is that by supporting clean energy sources more carbon is being prevented from being produced.

Do carbon offsets work against efforts in reducing carbon emissions? Some environmentalists say that carbon credits sends out the message that you can buy your way out of the problem. Offsets can work in conjunction with efforts in reduction of emissions. It is important for people to understand the importance of reducing their personal impact. People should continue to become more efficient in their 'energy spending,' and offset the unavoidable.

What does the government say? David Miliband, the UK The environment minister, admits that "offsetting isn't the answer to climate change." He is urging individuals and companies to reduce and avoid all carbon emissions possible. He insists that offsetting is a good way to deal with those emissions that can't be avoided.

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