?

Log in

No account? Create an account

TerraPass

« previous entry | next entry »
Apr. 15th, 2008 | 09:44 pm

Screw feeling guilty about my CO2 emissions for that flight back east, offset purchased.

TerraPass sells carbon offsets. WorldChanging.org rather likes how transparent TerraPass is with how they allocate the purchased offsets.

I've seen the TerraPass driving offset decal on a larger SUV near work.

Also they crunched some numbers to determine the cities with the highest CO2 offsets purchased per capita. Pasadena came in #7.

Link | Leave a comment |

Comments {6}

her other side

(no subject)

from: saltbox
date: Apr. 16th, 2008 07:10 am (UTC)
Link

This paper by my alma mater does a great analysis of the various carbon offsetters around. I've ended up using Native Energy as a result.

Reply | Thread

Diane Trout

(no subject)

from: alienghic
date: Apr. 17th, 2008 04:10 pm (UTC)
Link

Thank you for the paper, TerraPass' airline calculator still lacks the additional parameters for the stronger impact of aircraft emissions.

Reply | Parent | Thread

Rosa Westphalen

(no subject)

from: rosawestphalen
date: Apr. 16th, 2008 11:55 am (UTC)
Link

I really like the idea of Terrapass. I have used them with most of my travel the past 2 or 3 years. Expedia has a link in their purchase screen to buy a Terrapass for your flights and that made it really easy.


Edited at 2008-04-16 11:55 am (UTC)

Reply | Thread

markcronan

(no subject)

from: markcronan
date: Apr. 16th, 2008 07:44 pm (UTC)
Link

I wish the Catholic Church would sell terrapasses. That way, they can retool the tradition of buying indulgences to 21st century sins. ;)

Reply | Parent | Thread

Diane Trout

(no subject)

from: alienghic
date: Apr. 16th, 2008 10:23 pm (UTC)
Link

True, the paper linked in the other comment spent a bit discussing the disadvantages to these "licenses to pollute".

The problem is that lacking any larger systemic solution, like a carbon tax or an effective cap-and-trade system, people who are trying to do the "right thing" while stuck in a self-destructive society don't have any effective alternatives besides these indulgences.

Reply | Parent | Thread

markcronan

(no subject)

from: markcronan
date: Apr. 16th, 2008 10:31 pm (UTC)
Link

I agree. I was mostly teasing Laura when mentioning buying indulgences.

It's not a perfect system, but I think things like Terrapass are a step in the right direction. It introduces a capitalistic element to the issue, which I think is good. It could lead to a lot of competition for companies that reduce pollution, which will lead to more efficiency in pollution reduction and better technology to deal with pollution. A single for-profit source can address the pollution of thousands of individuals better than the thousands of individuals can deal with their own pollution.

And while I am not someone on board with the general concept of CO2 being a pollutant or significantly contributing to global warming, I am on board with energy conservation and environmental protection from pollutants in general. Companies like Terrapass, in the long term, are probably good for those more general issues.

Reply | Parent | Thread