Living on Credit

Posted by Shirley Siluk Gregory Mar 2, 2007

Buying carbon credits to offset one's personal carbon dioxide emissions is becoming increasingly popular, with celebrity support from such names as the band Coldplay and former vice-president Al Gore. But are carbon credits really the right way to go?

It turns out that not all carbon offset programs -- planting trees, installing solar panels, and so on -- are created equally. Some are more effective than others in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, some are poorly managed or executed, and some require long periods of time to have any measurable impact. So it seems smart that we not rely on carbon offsets alone to solve our greenhouse gas problems.

However admirable, carbon offsets alone won't compensate for all the carbon dioxide the world produces, and they won't alone help wean our society off of fossil fuels and non-renewables. The only long-term and effective way to permanently reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to move toward a more sustainable, less wasteful way of life. Think of it as the difference between recycling waste and not producing it in the first place, which is always the more environmentally responsible -- and cheaper -- way to go.