Responsible Travel, once a pioneer of carbon offsetting, has pulled out of carbon offsetting, claiming it to be a 'magic pill' that does nothing for carbon reduction. They said if people wish to reduce their carbon emissions they should fly less! [see You and Yours, BBC Radio 4, 6 November 2009]

 http://www.responsibletravel.com/Copy/Copy101331.htm
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00njb1w

They went on to say that travel companies using carbon offsetting are engaging in green wash.

Carbon emissions from a transatlantic flight of 6 hours are not compensated by planting a tree that takes 60-70 years to reach maturity. Who looks after the tree, what stops it being cut down for firewood, at the end of its life the tree dies, and unless buried, returns its carbon to the atmosphere.

Money paid to carbon offset companies is retained by the companies, very little actually goes towards carbon offsetting.

In Brazil, farmers are being forcibly kicked off their land for fast growing eucalyptus plantations. The water table drops, streams dry up. Farmers who remain, find that the land is no longer viable to farm. [see The Carbon Connection]

In India, industrialists are being paid for carbon offset schemes, schemes that would have gone ahead anyway.

Subsistence farmers are being paid to plant trees on land that was producing food. After the first payment, no more money follows, leaving the farmers destitute and the trees to die.

We do not offset asbestos, why therefore take a different approach to CO2 emissions?

The local council is minded to grant Farnborough Airport a doubling of flights which will lead to a doubling of CO2 emissions. The extra carbon emissions to be offset through discredited carbon trading! Planning meeting 7pm Wednesday 11 November 2009 at council offices in Farnborough.

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/09/438822.html
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/10/440698.html

Web

 http://www.carbontradewatch.org/
 http://www.cheatneutral.com/
 http://www.planestupid.com/
 http://www.airportpledge.org.uk/
 http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/
 http://risingtide.org.uk/
 http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/
 http://www.climaterush.co.uk/
 http://www.onehundredmonths.org/
 http://haroldgoodwin.wordpress.com/