Carbon offsets and the 100th monkey syndrome

Carbon offsets.

You've heard the hype; then the criticism. So, what is it and, in a nutshell, is it any good?

A carbon offset is the process that allows organizations or individuals to compensate all or part of the carbon dioxide (C02) emissions by either reducing those emissions or paying for the priviledge to produce the emissions by paying for another to absorb those emissions. The hope is that these transactions will reduce net greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to combat the very real, very dangerous global warming crisis.

The carbon offset process garnered a lot of press as of late, due to increased interest in this process of accountability. Now, there are organizations all over the world involved in the buying and selling of carbon offsets to individuals and organizations who want to compensate for climate impacts (due to air travel and other activities). One organization declared that an individual one-way plane trip from Toronto to Vancouver would cost a consumer as little as $15 extra in order to offset the carbon dioxide produced by their option to travel by air.

At first, environmental advocates and groups applauded the efforts of companies and individuals in attempting to become "carbon neutral".

However, with more press comes more criticism. Now, environmentalists are (and have) criticised carbon offsets as a distraction from essential reductions in fossil fuel use, and forestry offset projects have been met with heavy criticism, drawing the benefits into question.

Now, there is little doubt that the larger issues, as highlighted by carbon offset critics, must be addressed. A tree foresty project that does not contribute to carbon offsetting could be a waste of resources and a continued (and disproportionate) dependency on fossil fuels in the developed world will do more harm than good regardless of all the good intentions from carbon offset and other green programs.

However, we cannot write off this program entirely, and for one major reason: accountability.

The fact is in our global village and instant-communication society most of us are so far removed from the impact of our choices that are level of accountability has diminished greatly. The very fact that people continue to purchase goods produced in countries that are on record as human rights' abusers shows this level of (willing?) ignorance. Enter the carbon offset programs. This scheme enables people to reacquaint themself to the consequences of their decisions. It allows a person to take responsibility for opting to live, work and play in the manner they decide.

The fact is, the terms responsibility and accountability are often seen as killjoys. They are terms bantered about in relation to finance and legality and are often ignored (at least subconsciously) in our day to day activities -- or at least, so we think. Yet, responsibility and accountability are the cornerstones of our democratic (read: free) society. As a nation built upon free choice and market decisions we are afforded the opportunities to make informed decisions -- and any decision, informed or not, is subject to consequences.

The carbon offset programs (as limited as they are) are re-introducing the notion of consequence into our decision making process. By accepting the reality -- that there are consequences to every decision -- we can accept potential harm reduction, or solution-based options.

Think of it this way: if you were to go to the top of the CN Tower and jump off, would you deny the consequences of gravity? No. The fact that we live in a developed (hence rich) country affords us certain options that others may not have. While, some would have us guilt our way into oblivious ignorance the carbon offset pioneers are trying to awaken us to potential. Rather than deny a lifestyle they are asking us to accept the consequences of that lifestyle.

For those criticizing the offset program, may I remind you that this attachment between choice and consequence has long been missed by the average consumer. In a day where goods are plentiful and conditions of production easily hidden, it is important to once again make that connection. While the offset program does not address the greater issue (the over use and abuse of fossil fuels) it DOES get us thinking about the consequences. And everyone knows...critical mass comes from each one of us taking the time out to think and change.