Carbon Offset-is it All Hype?

[GrowYourOwn]

Ok so you plant a bunch of trees to offset the carbon that you put out into the air-what does this really achieve? Does it really cancel out the carbon that you put out, or is it just a distraction-more political ploys to keep people from noticing what little is really being done to help the planet?

[berlinlife06]

Because of the biological process that trees do while they receive the sun, they act as matural cleaners or rather purifiers of air. That's why it is important to plant trees. They'll help reduce the bad air we have.

[purple]

Well if we assume you didn't drive your Hummer to pick up the trees that were trucked from Canada to Florida before you got to the greenhouse, then its a pretty good idea to get closer to offsetting the carbon you use. Its not eprfect though, butwould you rather people try to do the right thing for the wrong reasons, or not try at all? I'll pick try to do the right thing under any circumstances.

[SageMother]

Originally Posted by berlinlife06

Because of the biological process that trees do while they receive the sun, they act as matural cleaners or rather purifiers of air. That's why it is important to plant trees. They'll help reduce the bad air we have.

The ratio of trees to carbon produced obviously has to be a lot greater than current "carbon offset" can handle!

We would have to replace enough trees that the earth would resemble something closer to pre-industrialization to clear things up!

[jazzgrrl]

I really think it is hype - of all the issues out there, it almost feels that this is one created (although it is a real issue) to help corporations and government amend and sleep better at night.

[GrowYourOwn]

Originally Posted by SageMother

The ratio of trees to carbon produced obviously has to be a lot greater than current "carbon offset" can handle!

We would have to replace enough trees that the earth would resemble something closer to pre-industrialization to clear things up!

Yes and this is basically my fear! I am not against doing something to try and help, and yes I agree that we do need to be planting trees, but I don't think that its a reason-and this is the big thing here-I do not believe that it's a good enough reason to carry on a bad lifestyle because "I'm offsetting my carbon footprint". The planting should happen anyway, but so should the reduction in emissions.

[berlinlife06]

Originally Posted by SageMother

The ratio of trees to carbon produced obviously has to be a lot greater than current "carbon offset" can handle!

We would have to replace enough trees that the earth would resemble something closer to pre-industrialization to clear things up!

You are right, but it is not only the trees... is not using our cars as much, but using mass transport and or bikes, using very much of alternative energy and then trees... It is something that will take some time but we all have to do our part.