36
votes
Accepted
What are the major concerns about planting trees to create carbon offsets?
That the scheme actually has a net positive effect, both in the short and long-term
How effective a tree planting scheme is in capturing and storing carbon dioxide, is for a large part determined by ...
- 14.4k
31
votes
Accepted
Why does the cost of planting trees vary so much across different websites?
There are different levels of service.
In itself planting a tree is very easy and cheap, of the 3 billion trees in the UK, most drop thousands of seeds each year and some germinate all by themselves ...
- 1,230
26
votes
What are the major concerns about planting trees to create carbon offsets?
Questions about tree planting have come up on StackExchange quite often, and in the news various countries have great drives to plant vast numbers of trees in a single day.
A common issue seems to be ...
- 1,230
7
votes
Why does the cost of planting trees vary so much across different websites?
Any time you want to give money to a charity, you should do some basic research on how the charity spends donated money. Some charities spend over 90% of donated funds on charitable works, with ...
- 171
6
votes
Emissions offsets versus avoidance: can they be compared?
There is a saying in the sustainability world; "Reduce what you can, offset what you can't".
If you burn fossil fuels, you are adding CO2 to the atmosphere.
While it is possible to reduce ...
- 14.4k
4
votes
Accepted
For airlines that have "vowed to offer carbon-neutral flights" how do they say they plan to actually make some flights demonstrably carbon-neutral?
One of the first airlines to initiate sustainability and carbon neutrality in it operations was Qantas.
It has a Carbon Action Plan, which includes things such as:
Establishing carbon offsetting ...
- 3,507
3
votes
What's the point of buying carbon offsets for completed projects?
The simple answer is that the "completed" project is ongoing. Much as a motorway doesn't stop emitting once it's completed, a landfill gas capture system does not stop reducing emissions ...
- 3,875
3
votes
What are the major concerns about planting trees to create carbon offsets?
One concern is that it takes too long. Because a sustainable forest needs decades to grow it is a midterm solution only.
Another concern that comes to mind which I have not yet heard is that the ...
2
votes
Emissions offsets versus avoidance: can they be compared?
Yes. Account for as many externalities as possible.
Ticket price
Flight £100
Train £170
Environmental Impact Cost
Calculate the offset costs for both options, so that they would both be equally ...
- 1,230
1
vote
Do carbon-offsetting apps work? Are there better ways for me to invest in reducing climate change?
Let's consider the climate investments.
tree planting schemes
Do they pay an external landowner to plant trees, or do they purchase the land, plant trees and ensure the trees will stay there?
If ...
- 4,700
1
vote
What's the point of buying carbon offsets for completed projects?
Carbon offsets for completed projects seem like a major con but then again carbon offsets are a major con anyway.
If you buy something that has been already completed, remember to ensure you will be ...
- 4,700
1
vote
How immediate are the benefits from carbon offsets?
I am highly skeptical of carbon offsets.
They remind me of the cynic's definition of "foreign aid," which is "The transfer of wealth from poor people in rich countries to rich people in ...
- 248
1
vote
Carbon offset heating oil
Your best bet to offset is not via some carbon-offset program that are a big con, but rather by directing your money into green investments. Invest in wind power, solar power, geothermal heat pump etc ...
- 4,700
1
vote
Why do people buy carbon credits?
I don't think "people " buy them . Corporations or companies buy them as required by law ( in USA). One instance is auto manufacturers : When the new automobile fleet average does not meet the EPA ...
- 550
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