This is why carbon trading will not work

Thank you David Suzuki for finally teaching us something. This article illustrates the pure stupidity behind carbon trading. I thought the goal was to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). Carbon trading does nothing more than transfer money from industrious countries to developing countries. In order to "educate" Canadians on the harmful effects of GHG David is driving from coast-to-coast across Canada in a diesel powered bus. But don't worry David has a plan.

"At the end of the tour, we will calculate the total emissions from the tour, and purchase high-quality carbon offsets that support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects."

So let me get this straight he will still pump the GHG into the environment which, supposedly, harms the environment but don't worry it is OK as long as he then spends lots of money to make up for it.

Here is a description of these carbon offsetting schemes:

"Under carbon-offset schemes, individuals and groups can claim their activities cause no net addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by funding projects that fully offset their emissions. Rock bands such as the Rolling Stones and organizations that want to burnish their environmental image have been buying these offsets for years."

This is asinine. The fact remains that the original emissions were pumped into the environment. Wouldn't it make more sense to not put the GHG into the environment in the first place and still fund the projects? If the GHG are really that bad then why put them into the atmosphere in the first place. Turning around and developing solar power will not suck the GHG back out of the atmosphere.

If individuals want to spend money on this research that is their choice. But do not claim that there is no net effect on the environment. The fact is GHG have increased because of your tour bus David and no amount of money spent on carbon-offset schemes will change that!