Happy Friday! It's Tip Day for ways to build habits that benefit the environment. I'm expanding on 
the information that I provided Wednesday about Carbon Offsets - what they are, and the pros and cons of investing in them. My resolution in 2008 is to 'Show Gradtitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back' and the environment is one of my recipients. In an effort to help protect and preserve the environment I'm working to educate myself and others about Global Warming, Climate Change, and 'how to give the boot to our Carbon Footprints'. I dedicate my posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to the environment.
As I mentioned on Wednesday, folks who are working to reduce their Carbon Footprints - the measure of their activities on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases that are produced, and measured in units of Carbon Dioxide - are driving fewer miles, using less electricity at home and at work - and some are looking for additional alternatives such as Carbon Offsets.
On Wednesday, I highlighted a website that I found in my initial research - CarbonCounter.Org - which tells the story about The Climate Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Portland, Oregon that is working towards a more stable climate. According to their Website: "Our mission is to provide climate change solutions by purchasing high quality greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets from projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advancing sound offset policy." If you want to learn more, it's worth having a look at the CarbonCounter.Org website.
The Environmental Defense Fund also offers some excellent background, as well as a list of offsets which it says were "were evaluated by a team of experts and meet our standards for credible, high-quality offsets." The Environmental Defense Fund website also offers a strongly worded disclaimer:
"Environmental Defense has tried to assure that the offsets on this website are credible but can not warrant or guarantee their value, quantitative accuracy, or long-term viability. The buyer of any offsets should always determine to his or her satisfaction that the offsets to be purchased have been quantified and verified in a rigorous and transparent manner and that they have been registered in an appropriate offset registry. Environmental Defense provides this website as a public service, and specifically disclaims any liability, financial or otherwise, should purchased offsets prove to be inaccurate or overvalued. Use of this website is conditioned upon user's acceptance of this liability disclaimer."
With that in mind, as with any investment - whether for personal retirement, business, savings, or to help preserve the environment - it pays to do your homework, educate yourself so you can make informed decisions, and be a careful, wise consumer. There is a lot of information on the Internet about Carbon Offsets. Today, I'm expanding my research and offering a list of websites from environmental organizations, the Federal Government, and other organizations in the business of providing offsets, as well as newspaper and magazine articles that shed light on some of the pros and cons surrounding offsets. This list is not meant to be the final word, exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement by IResolveTo.Com of any of the organizations or the information they offer, but is merely provided for informational purposes as an educational tool:
- TerraPass.Com
- CarbonFund.Org
- TreeHugger.Com
- CarbonCounter.Org
- The Environmental Defense Fund
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change
- NewYorkTimesFTCCarbonOffsetsJanuary2008.pdf
- BusinessWeekAnotherInconvenientTruthMarch2007.pdf
- ChristianScienceMonitorCarbonOffsetsJanuary2007.pdf
Remember: I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!
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Kim M. Simpson - February 22, 2008
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