Comments on: Cheat Neutral http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/ hopping along the corridors of power Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:07:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Mouldwarp http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31733 Mouldwarp Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:52:54 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31733 I understand that ministers will now have their official travel CO2 offset at the taxpayers' expense. I'd be interested to know just how many of these ministers offset their private CO2 emissions out of their own pocket. Or is it the case that they take a rather different view of the "problem" when it's their own money, but are quite happy to squander taxpayers' money on worthless gestures? How about a scheme that only offsets ministers' official CO2 eissions if they themselves offset their private CO2 emissions out of their own pocket? How many of our political masters would meet this requirement? I understand that ministers will now have their official travel CO2 offset at the taxpayers’ expense.

I’d be interested to know just how many of these ministers offset their private CO2 emissions out of their own pocket. Or is it the case that they take a rather different view of the “problem” when it’s their own money, but are quite happy to squander taxpayers’ money on worthless gestures?

How about a scheme that only offsets ministers’ official CO2 eissions if they themselves offset their private CO2 emissions out of their own pocket? How many of our political masters would meet this requirement?

]]> By: Tomsk http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31714 Tomsk Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:49:28 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31714 I know that the very concept of offsetting has been compared to mediaeval indulgences, but I was wondering whether there were any schemes that the frog would recommend as actually making a difference? I'm asking, because several month's worth of walking to work and turning the appliances off at the wall can be undone by a single trip to see one's mum (especially when we live on a couple of islands that are a long way from anywhere and have virtually no long-distance public transport). That <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2007/05/practical_values.html">Mother Jones article</a> that you cite quotes a report that lists some as excellent, and I was wondering what you thought of local programmes like carboNZero and Meridian's credits. Finally, I was wondering whether things like public transport initiatives could sell credits as a way to help fund themselves? For instance, imagine an expansion of Wellington's electric rail and trolley bus network, powered by local renewable energy: if it offers new services that get commuters out of cars, would that count as a worthwhile offsetting programme? I know that the very concept of offsetting has been compared to mediaeval indulgences, but I was wondering whether there were any schemes that the frog would recommend as actually making a difference? I’m asking, because several month’s worth of walking to work and turning the appliances off at the wall can be undone by a single trip to see one’s mum (especially when we live on a couple of islands that are a long way from anywhere and have virtually no long-distance public transport).

That Mother Jones article that you cite quotes a report that lists some as excellent, and I was wondering what you thought of local programmes like carboNZero and Meridian’s credits.

Finally, I was wondering whether things like public transport initiatives could sell credits as a way to help fund themselves? For instance, imagine an expansion of Wellington’s electric rail and trolley bus network, powered by local renewable energy: if it offers new services that get commuters out of cars, would that count as a worthwhile offsetting programme?

]]> By: BucolicOldSirHenry http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31702 BucolicOldSirHenry Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:26:37 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31702 Nonsense. Offsetting is a part of the solution: not a big part, but a helpful way to smooth a transition. Finlay's piece was talking about carbon trading, not offsetting, and he was wrong about that as well. Nonsense. Offsetting is a part of the solution: not a big part, but a helpful way to smooth a transition. Finlay’s piece was talking about carbon trading, not offsetting, and he was wrong about that as well.

]]> By: Bryce http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31697 Bryce Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:25:36 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2007/09/27/cheat-neutral/#comment-31697 Definitely a dangerous red herring - especially because carbon trading relies on the market. Check out the recent Sunday Star-Time columns by Finlay MacDonald on why carbon trading is a green con. Bryce www.liberation.org.nz Definitely a dangerous red herring - especially because carbon trading relies on the market. Check out the recent Sunday Star-Time columns by Finlay MacDonald on why carbon trading is a green con.

Bryce
http://www.liberation.org.nz

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