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'''Carbon offsetting''' is the practice of purchasing or building [[carbon sink]]s which match or exceed an individual or corporation's [[carbon dioxide]] emmissions. Carbon offset activities could include buying stocks in a "green" [[power]] company, using solar power, and the like. The goal is to keep an individual or corporation's net carbon emissions at zero, in order to stave off the theoretical [[global warming|warming]] due to the [[greenhouse effect]].

'''Carbon offsetting''' is the practice of purchasing or building [[carbon sink]]s which match or exceed an individual or corporation's [[carbon dioxide]] emmissions. Carbon offset activities could include buying stocks in a "green" [[power]] company, using solar power, and the like. The goal is to keep an individual or corporation's net carbon emissions at zero, in order to stave off the theoretical [[global warming|warming]] due to the [[greenhouse effect]].

Critics point out that, while carbon dioxide has the largest volume of controllable contributions to theorized atmospheric warming, it has the lowest effect on a per molecule basis of any of the [[greenhouse gas]]es.

Critics point out that, while carbon dioxide has the largest volume of controllable contributions to theorized atmospheric warming, it has the lowest effect on a per molecule basis of any of the [[greenhouse gas]]es.{{fact}}

It is important to note that, while planting [[tree]]s is percieved to be a "green" activity, a simple balance over the life and death of the tree will show that this activity does not actually decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. While carbon is consumed by the tree during growth, the exact same amount of carbon is produced during decomposition. The net carbon gain, therefore, is zero over the entire lifecycle of the tree.

It is important to note that, while planting [[tree]]s is perceived to be a "green" activity, a simple balance over the life and death of the tree will show that this activity does not actually decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. While carbon is consumed by the tree during growth, the exact same amount of carbon is produced during decomposition. The net carbon gain, therefore, is zero over the entire life cycle of the tree.{{fact}}

Some politicians and activists, particularly environmental activists such as [[Al Gore]] use carbon offsetting as a status symbol within their community.

Some politicians and activists, particularly environmental activists such as [[Al Gore]], use carbon offsetting as a status symbol within their community.{{fact}}

It is estimated that in the first three quarters of 2006, about 130 million dollars were spent offseting the carbon emissions of companies and individuals, a 300 per cent increase over from 2005 <ref>http://www.carbontradewatch.org/pubs/carbon_neutral_myth.pdf</ref>. The companies marketing the carbon offset credits are unregulated and lack transparency of where the money for offsets is spend.

It is estimated that in the first three quarters of 2006, about 130 million dollars were spent offsetting the carbon emissions of companies and individuals, a 300 per cent increase from 2005. <ref>http://www.carbontradewatch.org/pubs/carbon_neutral_myth.pdf</ref> The companies marketing the carbon offset credits are unregulated and there is a lack transparency of where the money for offsets is spent.{{fact}}

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[[Carbon sequestration]] - the act of preventing [[carbon dioxide]] from a process to mix with the [[atmosphere]]

*[[Carbon sequestration]] - the act of preventing [[carbon dioxide]] from a process from mixing with the [[atmosphere]]

==References==

==References==

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[[category:climate change]]

[[category:climate change]]