Green Leaf Report

When are carbon emissions not carbon emissions?  Apparently when you pay some money to another vendor, then poof, they can suddenly become “offset.”  Over the past week I’ve been in an email discussion with a former coworker about whether there can be any value to carbon offsets.  He adamantly believes no, and I’ve been trying to argue the other side, but I have to say that I can’t really come up with any good reasons.  The fact is, emissions are emissions- if you put it into the air, it’s your creation.  Funding alternative energy and various green projects is commendable, but that doesn’t excuse the emissions you continue to put out.  Let me know if you disagree- I would like to hear reasons that it’s worth considering.  But at this point, all I can think is companies should admit to their failings, while still publishing their green investments.  Show the good and the bad, but don’t pretend one cancels the other.