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