Table of Contents

Foreword 13

Introduction 16

Chapter 1 How Do Carbon Offsets Work?

Chapter Overview Mike Rosen-Molina 21

Carbon Trading Is a U.S.-Proposed Market Solution for Global Climate Change Larry Lohmann 31

The European Union Is a Pioneer in Carbon Trading Eileen Claussen 38

The United States Is Poised to Create Its Own Mandatory Carbon Trading Program Bob Keefe 43

Carbon Offsets Are Now the Cornerstone of International Efforts to Slow Global Warming Renfrey Clarke 48

Carbon May Become the Largest Commodity Market in the World James Kanter 57

Individuals Can Purchase Carbon Offsets in a Voluntary Market Rebecca Gallagher 61

Chapter 2 Are Carbon Offsets Effective in Reducing Global Warming?

Chapter Preface 66

Yes, Carbon Offsets Are Effective in Reducing Global Warming

Carbon Offsets Are One of Many Solutions Needed for Global Warming David Suzuki 69

Carbon Trading Markets Are Working Neal Dikeman 72

Carbon Offsets Help to Mitigate the Environmental Harm from Air Travel Joelle Novey 82

Carbon Offsets Are Better Than Doing Nothing About Carbon Emissions The Carbon Consultancy 90

No, Carbon Offsets Are Not Effective in Reducing Global Warming John Vidal

A Majority of the Untied Nations' Carbon Offset Projects Do Nothing To Cut Global Warming John Vidal 94

The Only Beneficiaries of Carbon Offsets Are Polluting Corporations Kevin Smith 97

Many Carbon Offset Projects Have a Negative Impact on the Environment and Global Warming Wouter Buytaert 105

Individual Carbon Offsets Simply Allow the Rich to Ease Their Guilt Without Changing Their Lifestyles Robert Frank 109

Chapter 3 Are Tree-Based Carbon Offsets Beneficial?

Chapter Overview Toni Johnson 114

Yes,Three-Based Carbon Offsets Are Beneficial Carbon Credits Can Encourage Developing Nations to Protect Trees Rachel Oliver 122

Carbon Credits Could Save the Rainforests Rhett A. Butler 128

Carbon Offsets for Preventing Deforestation Could Raise the Value of Living Forests Science Daily 132

A United Nations' Carbon Offset Deforestation Project Can Help Prevent Deforestation Jan Fehse 136

No, Tree-Based Carbon Offsets Are Not Beneficial

Carbon Trading Cannot Solve Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Emily Boyd 141

Carbon Trading May Put Mature Tropical Forests at Risk Science Daily 145

Carbon Trading Projects for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation Could Hurt Indigenous Peoples Angeli Mehta Jutta Kill 149

Chapter 4 How Should the Voluntary Carbon Offset Market Be Regulated?

Chapter Preface 158

The Problem with Individual Carbon Offsets Now Is That They Are Not Properly Regulated Moises Velasquez-Manoff 161

The U.S. Government Should Provide Guidelines and Oversight of the Domestic Carbon Offset Market Derik Broekhoff 168

States Are Calling for the Federal Trade Commission to Study and Regulate Voluntary U.S. Carbon Trading Elliot Burg David A. Zonana 177

The U.S. Congress Should Pass a Carbon Offset Certification Process Center for American Progress 187

The Gold Standard Can Provide Quality Assurance for the Voluntary Carbon Offset Market WWF 192

Voluntary Carbon Trading Should Be Globally Regulated Simon Linnett 196

Organizations to Contact 200

Bibliography 205

Index 211