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Greenhouse gas emissions from industry,
transportation and agriculture are very
likely the main causes of the global
warming phenomenon. |
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Across the world there have been various
approaches to stop/ slow down global
warming. Carbon offsetting is one of the
various ways in which Global Warming
impact is quantified. A well-known
example of carbon offsetting is the
planting of trees to compensate for the
greenhouse gas emissions. |
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Carbon offsets generally refer to
voluntary acts by individuals or
companies that are commonly arranged by
commercial or not-for-profit
carbon-offset providers. |
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Carbon Offset Calculators |
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Calculators, available on the internet,
such as the one provided by
climatecare.org have become immensely
popular with the environmentally aware
population of the world to calculate the
emissions. |
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Carbon credits |
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Carbon credits are a tradable permit
scheme .A credit gives the owner the
right to emit one tonne of carbon
dioxide. Businesses that are over their
quotas must buy carbon credits for their
excess emissions, while businesses that
are below their quotas can sell their
remaining credits |
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Credits can be exchanged between
businesses or bought and sold in
international markets at the prevailing
market price. |
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Emissions trading: |
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A central authority sets a limit or cap
on the amount of a pollutant that can be
emitted. The total amount of credits
cannot exceed the cap. Companies that
pollute beyond their allowances must buy
credits from those who pollute less than
their allowances. This transfer is
referred to as a trade. ‘Emissions
Trading’ is regulated by a strict formal
and legal framework |
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Figure: Kyoto Protocol participation map |
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Role of Celebrities |
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Celebrity public figures have of late
shown great concern for the global
warming cause and have adopted
carbon-neutral lifestyles. Notable are
former US Vice President Al Gore and
Charles, The Prince of Wales. Both have
ensured that they buy carbon offsets for
their activities that cause carbon
emissions. These include offsetting for
their air travel, day to day home needs
of self and family. Charles has ensured
that the entire Windsor Castle offsets
all of its carbon emissions without
fail, while Al and wife Tipper have
taken great steps to ensure their
lifestyle becomes completely carbon
neutral. |
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