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The amount we ask users to offset varies according to the kind of package they have, so for a simple website on a shared account we offset 100Kg, but for company using a server we offset 2 tonnes. This isn’t as perfect a solution as we would like, but it will improve. Ultimately, given the number of users who share virtual server space we are confident that we over offset.

I agree with you regarding the role of offsetting we want users to cut power use and switch to carbon neutral energy suppliers first and foremost.

I’m interested in the fact that you see us as providing a marketing opportunity, the truth is I guess we are, but in order to get the marketing opportunity you have to offset your website as a minimum and our registrants are encouraged to do more than this because the more you offset the higher up the listings you go.

http://www.coco2.org ‘touts’ carbon offsets and rewards users with a directory listing. The purpose of this twofold. Firstly, we hope in the future green conscious consummers would search for carbon friendly companies rather than companies that don’t appear to give a damn. Secondly, it allows users to verify that the ‘carbon neutral website’ badge on a website is actually paid for and offsets have been made.

Ultimatley, we want to encourage businesses and website owners to take the issue seriously and to think beyond their homes.

Regarding the Washington comment I made it’s based on avaerage US carbon emmission figures. Hence the world comparison. A lot of the figures are very shaky indeed, because irrespective of Washington’s actual carbon output, the real per head output would be far higher due to the large level of imported goods. So I think you are more than fair to point out that this is an assertion rather than a fact, but an assertion I am very confident about.

That said, I think we should all try and stick to facts going forward because assertions can be denied and debates become circular.

For the record, I do genuinley welcome your comments.

I’d love to hear what you are basing your Washington assertion on. There are many huge businesses here such as Microsoft and Boeing that undoubtedly produce a lot of carbon, never mind the lumber industry, although many such companies are also doing extensive offsets and reforestation. The Northwest is the most progressive, most offsetting, most sustainable building area in the United States. Truly, I don’t really like to argue, I do like to base my decisions and assertions on facts, or at least an educated best guess – and if there’s one there, please share it.

Now for the rant.

What is your problem with people wanting to show solidarity with a cause and helping albeit a little? If people are interested in making a difference first and formost they should reduce the amount of electricity they use. Secondly, they should try and buy their energy from a carbon neutral energy supplier. But lets face it thats not going to make your website carbon neutral, is it? So what is so wrong with offsetting there website emmissions and diaplaying a banner to let people know you are at least acknowledging the issue.

There you are sitting in Seattle, which, incidentaly by world standards is one of the highest carbon emmitting states in the world, recycling the occassional piece of rubbish thinking your doing your bit.

Why are you criticising people who are probably pretty like minded to you? Why don’t you invest a bit more time and energy into encouraging the naysayers to climate change to face up to the truth? Isn’t it ironic, that people who declare themselves concerned about the environment end up critisising other people who care about the environment.

If you want to do your bit then you need to start doing a bit more than just critizing other people for trying to make a difference. Oh and you should register your site with http://www.coco2.org and display a ‘carbon neutral website’ banner.

Oliver Rackham, a Cambridge University botanist and landscape historian, describes the problem succinctly: ‘Telling people to plant trees [to solve climate change] is like telling them to drink more water to keep down rising sea levels.’ – New Internationalist article by Adam Ma’anit.

For more on the particulars of the debate over tree offsets google “tree offsets problem. The article 10 Things You Need to Know about Tree ‘Offsets’ puts much of the problem succinctly.

Despite the subtleties that are still being debated, it’s generally accepted that planting trees in the northern hemisphere is doesn’t help at all and the sad fact is that efforts to repopulate rain forest trees have resulted in a lot of political hardship for native peoples and the trees themselves are in constant danger so I recommend against tree offsets.

That’s not to say planting trees is bad by any stretch, trees are great and it looks like your nursery is beautiful. However, suggesting people are offsetting their carbon responsibility by funding your nursery is misinformed, at best.

Thanks,

Ru.