US Government admits problems in Carbon Trading

This just came in via Larry and basically says, that the United States Government Accountability Office sees the ‘Baseline-Problem’, the sense in ‘Offsetting’ when wanting real mitigation, and the CDM-Scheme in general.
The US General Accounting Office (GAO) says (5 March 2009) that:
“… inherent uncertainty exists in measuring emissions reductions relative to such a baseline … [...]

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Carbon Trading – the debate goes on…

Many of my friends now that I am not a fan of Carbon Trading. Even though I am

Development Dialogue 48

able and willing to understand the “there is no other way possible right now”-argument, hence being not a radical, I hope for more public criticism. Therefore I loved the book

by the great Larry Lohmann that was published by the DHF. A video of him talking about the issue can be seen as well.

More information on the topic can be found:

The Corner House

Sinks Watch

CarbonTradeWatch

World Rainforest Movement

Rising Tide

While I – active and multiplicatory in character – do not see myself able to live up to the demands of Julian Glover who is looking for a new Martin Luther to trike back against the “medieval pardoners handing out unlimited indulgences”, I was writeing a Paper on the topic together with one of the most active young greens from Asia: Sanka from Sri Lanka. It is the first of a series of “GYG-Diskussion Papers”. It can be downloaded once I figure out how this technique is working. Here’s the text:

Is Carbon Trading really
an Economic Savior?

by
Georg P Kössler (Sweden/Germany)
and
Sanka Chandima Abayawardena (Sri Lanka)1

A discussion paper for GYG
Introduction
New optimism came into the international debate on Climate Change through the implementation of a Emission Trading Approach. The biggest contributor USA is likely to join soon after the General Elections this year and the mistakes of having an over-supply in certificates and the missing of auctioning are not likely to be repeated. Through Offsetting-companies is it possible for ordinary people to make “their” contribution. Now we are on the right track.
Are we really? This article is the view of two young green activists of the GLOBAL YOUNG GREENS who do not think so. They believe that a solution within the capitalistic system of supply-and-demand policy will not solve the general problem of worldwide climate justice. The problem arose in the first place due to increasing demand in the global North while the global South had to give supply. Now it is the same with carbon-credits. But only a halt in destroying policies, only a significant change in lifestyles and only an ordering united worldwide framework can safe us and our unborn children from whom we borrowed this precious earth.

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