Hey, what exactly are carbon credits?
By harshadod
@harshadod (858)
India
December 1, 2006 11:59am CST
Do you think even individuals should be issued with carbon credits?
We can be rewarded for using bicycle, solar power and other environment friendly substances, like biofuel.
Amidst growing concern and increasing awareness on the need for pollution control , the concept of carbon credit came into vogue as part of an international agreement, popularly known as the Kyoto Protocol . Carbon credits are certificates issued to countries that reduce their emission of GHG (greenhouse gases) which causes global warming.
It is estimated that 60-70% of GHG emission is through fuel combustion in industries like cement, steel, textiles and fertilisers. Some GHG gases like hydro fluorocarbons, methane and nitrous oxide are released as by-products of certain industrial process, which adversely affect the ozone layer, leading to global warming .
4 responses
@harshadod (858)
• India
5 Dec 06
Thanks for your elaborate response. I agree that the the whole concept of environmental protection may be flawed. Some things are a result of so called progress. We may have ways and means to take care of pollution , global warming etc.
But, at the same time I will say that as our present intelligence is limited, we mat have to go slow. We do not have all the answers for pollution or global warming. Some of the islands have felt the damage.
Colonization of outer space may be an answer.
Why do you think that for individuals there should be no carbon credits?
http://www.cctv.com/program/nature&science/20060307/100421.shtml
@loudcry (1043)
• India
5 Dec 06
There is no point compromising our present for the sake of the CONCEPT of future,as you said our knowledge is limited and we are not in a position to predict the future.If a system like carbon credits could be applicable to every single person on earth ,it would be legitimate, but only a few people have to live a compromised life . That is not fair.
@loudcry (1043)
• India
5 Dec 06
what exactly are carbon credits?
Carbon credits are certificates issued to countries that reduce their emission of GHG (greenhouse gases) which causes global warming.
They are a result of kyoto protocol.
Measured in units of certified emission reductions (CERs). Each CER is equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide reduction
Do this is how they work, if an industry 'A' is allowed to produce 'x' tonne of carbon but produces 'x-1' tonne of carbon it has a surples of 1 CER which it can sell to an industry which produces more carbon than it is allowed to produce . All potential golgal warming pollutants are converted into carbon credits. therefore carbon can be called the basic currency of the system
@loudcry (1043)
• India
5 Dec 06
What is Kyoto Protocol ?
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to signatory nations.
@loudcry (1043)
• India
5 Dec 06
Some not so Obvious flaws in the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto protocol is just another instance where people who, do not/are incapable of producing wealth , INSTRUCT people who DO create wealth what to do.
Moreover, the whole 'save the environment' rhetoric is a hogwash. According to some 'studies' the earth should have been destroyed by now.A volcano can spit pollutants in one day which mankind has not been able to in a 100 years .
Global warming might actually be necessery to sustain life on earth as the earth cooling.
So there,scrap Kyoto protocol.
@loudcry (1043)
• India
5 Dec 06
Some very obvious flaws in kyoto Protocol
The US is not a signitory. This means the factories in the US can pollute all they want.Furthermore, the U.S. accounts for over 20 to 25 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, for just 4 to 5 percent of the world's population.
