Carbon Credits

[SageMother]

Originally Posted by Green-Moo

I'm not sure that I agree with the idea of trading in these 'credits'. Presumably that means that a company who create a high level of carbon emissions can opt out of doing anything about it by just buying up someone else's?

And....

Larger companies can absorb the expenditure a bit easier.

To me, it is a dangerous concept, probably because I have seen what happens when usage fees can be charged and then passed down to consumers. In the end, we not only deal with the emissions, but have to pay for the privilege!

[steppysteph]

Just wanted to add that companies in the developed countries can set up companies in the non-developed countries and then get those carbon credits from the non-developed countries. Simply put, carbon credits can only be gotten from non-developed countries and not the developed countries. This is because the labor and other materials are cheaper when you set-up in a non-developed country so the Kyoto Protocol wants the companies in the developed country to set up carbon efficient (renewable energy projects) in non-developed countries to offset their carbon emissions in their own developed country.

[justontime]

Originally Posted by Green-Moo

I'm not sure that I agree with the idea of trading in these 'credits'. Presumably that means that a company who create a high level of carbon emissions can opt out of doing anything about it by just buying up someone else's?

I have misgivings too, but if the 'bad' companies who emit more carbon have to pay more in order to have sufficient credits, it may make them uncompetitive and put them out of business; so there is an incentive for them to reduce their emissions. As I understand it the amount that a company is allowed to emit gradually decreases over the years so they are forced to focus on changing their methods and reducing their emissions. In industries that can't change their production methods the cost will be passed on to the customer and we will understand the true cost of that product. In turn that will force us to make our own lifestyle changes

[berlinlife06]

I don't agree with the carbon credit, because it is damaging the planet the same way, only not the same people. Everybody should be forced to comply with the limit, and that's it, no credits whatsoever! I know it is a little "forced" but I believe it is the only way to really save the planet from getting worse.