Sunday, August 26, 2007; B06
Regarding the Aug. 16 front-page story "Cost of Saving the Climate Meets Real-World Hurdles":
We recognize that battling climate change requires a suite of solutions. Energy demand reductions are a key first step, but if you're going to drive to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving, wear clothes or eat food, you're going to leave a carbon footprint. Carbon offsets -- projects that reduce pollution -- are a critical way of fighting climate change and addressing that footprint.
Most offset organizations, including Carbonfund.org, certify, register, validate, measure and audit their green certificates and offset offerings, as they should. The article failed to mention that there are several highly regarded and widely used certifications, including Green-e, the Environmental Resources Trust, and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance. Nor did the article mention that certified green power and carbon offsets are a mainstream strategy to reduce pollution and have been embraced by PepsiCo, IBM and Starbucks, as well as the state of Pennsylvania and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Just as green power does not justify wasting electricity, carbon offsets are not about indulgences but about cleaning up after yourself. They also provide a self-imposed financial incentive to reduce your carbon footprint wherever possible. And the results? Carbonfund.org donors alone are offsetting almost 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of removing 100,000 cars from the road for a year.
The battle against climate change is huge. Everyone has a role to play and a responsibility to act. We must reduce pollution; we must support government action; we must bring new technologies to market; we must transform our energy infrastructure. And while we are doing those things, we can, and should, offset the rest.
ERIC CARLSON
Executive Director
Carbonfund.org
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