Featured in this article is an in-depth inquiry into the topic and controversies of carbon offsetting. In short, carbon offsetting are voluntary actions taken by individuals and organisations as part of their efforts to offset their own carbon emissions and to contribute to environmental protection through various means such as taking part in green projects, forestation, monetary donations, etc. This article focuses mainly on the trading of carbon offsets, giving us a better view regarding the legitimacy and attitudes involving the commercialisation of carbon offsetting and at the same time, offer readers information and alternatives to contribute to the cause sensibly.
In recent years, with environmental-related problems and disasters getting more evident than ever, in addition to all the hype that surround global environmental issues, many people have, or are beginning to realize the detrimental impacts that environmental woes can have on us, and on our lives. Greenhouse effect, Global warming, rampant deforestation …… all these pressing environmental issues are finally given much-needed publicity and attention worldwide after being ignored and disregarded for decades, but these are definitely not enough if we intend to salvage the situation.
Amid rising temperatures and melting ice glaciers, more and more people are having first-hand experience of the negative effects of environmental problems, be it the warmer temperatures worldwide, or extreme weather conditions which results from it. All these have highlighted to the masses on the urgent and desperate need to take action, for the sake of protecting our earth, our homeland, and hopefully, ourselves.
In my opinion, I believe that every human being has to take up responsibility in an attempt to halt the further destruction of our planet as a result of our actions. No part is too small to play, if each and every one of us are united in our stand, we will definitely be able to at the very least, contribute to environmental protection through our part, even though it may be as minor as switching off electrical appliances which are not in use.
Carbon offsetting is an innovative initiative which was initially meant to raise awareness for taking up responsibility for our carbon emissions and to provide people with opportunities to contribute to environmental protection. The original blueprint and its initial aims are excellent ideas worth encouraging and supporting, however, due to commercialisation, carbon offsetting has became yet another form of marketing tool, capable of generating millions in the name of environmental protection.
As mentioned in the article, buying or trading carbon offsets may assuage one’s guilt for contributing to carbon emissions which are pushing our fragile earth towards the brink of destruction. Furthermore, we are also providing monetary support to the cause of environmental protection and conservation through our deals. Having painted such a rosy picture however, how are we going to prove and assure for ourselves that the truth is what we thought to be? Are we really contributing sensibly and significantly? Many questions regarding carbon offsetting, their transparency, legitimacy, dealings and ethics among many other, still remain unanswered, casting a cloud of controversy over this “green” strategy., most people do not have any idea whether their dealings are put to good use or how operators manage or systemize the processes, most are just glad to add to the influx of "green" profits garnered from carbon offset sales worldwide in exchange for the guilt-free label.
Every one of us has to show more responsibility and concern for our environment. It is indeed dismaying to know that not every individual is committed to the cause and our efforts are still, sadly, too weak and insignificant if we were to simply compare the rate of our offsets to our emissions. A tree needs thirty years to offset the carbon emission produced by a car in 4 hours.
Stumped we may be, but we must not allow these to deter us from playing our part. Engaging in inefficient carbon offset trading may not be beneficial to our environment and wallets after all, so it is high time that we end all these superficial and insignificant acts, and make concrete efforts to protect our environment, starting from small but sincere actions such as substituting air-conditioners for fans. Our small but sincere efforts will be appreciated and at least, there is transparency, knowing the way we offset and going green is really making a difference.
Prevention is better than cure; our earth is already battered, having born the brunt of our environmental woes, and most of us have had first-hand experience on the negative impacts of the negligence of environment protection. Let us not wait for the next catastrophe to happen before we scramble to take action, by then, it will be too late. Therefore, we have to do something soon, in fact, we must, for this is not charity, but a desperate attempt to save the lives of our earth, mankind, future generations and ourselves!
Posted By: Huang Jian Yi :) (35) 3G
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