In the global effort to constrain the carbon (CO2) emissions that are the chief culprit in the global warming we are currently experiencing, the idea of ‘carbon credits’ and ‘carbon offsets’ is getting a lot of attention and implementation.

The basic idea is to create a system where there is a market in ‘allowable’ emitting of CO2 by businesses. Companies that exceed their limit must engage in emissions trading to compensate for their excesses. And since individuals also contribute to excessive CO2 levels by their actions, there are opportunities for voluntary carbon offsetting on a personal basis as well. From these activities wise and responsible businesses and individuals can seek to become ‘carbon neutral’, and have earned the PR and ‘bragging rights’ as well.

While this system is not perfect, and many say that allowing the idea that any CO2 emissions are ‘acceptable’ is problematic, it does offer a way to move from a world of unconstrained CO2 emissions to one in which they are capped, constrained, and reduced to limits that can be absorbed by the natural functioning of biological systems - forests, plankton, and other forms of carbon sequestering life. Perhaps as important is their contribution at the moment to the very awareness of the problem that has been sorely lacking!

If you would like to get started on the path of personal responsibility for your carbon footprint (yours and your family’s) there are two steps as follows:

1. First check one of the carbon calculators that abound on the Internet to determine what the size of your carbon footprint is, then…
2. Go to one of the carbon offsetters to purchase offsets.

Here is a segment from the popular and thought provoking news program the Jim Lehrer News Hour on Carbon Offsets. Look for the ‘streaming video’ link on that page, which is more interesting than the transcript.

See also the ClimateCorps page on Cap and Trade.