Comments on: Will Obama see the forest for the trees?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:23:23 +0000

It think it’s been generally accepted that planting trees as carbon offsets is naïve sadly. A nice idea, but a little behind the times. http://www.agreenerfestival.com/pdfs/WWF -GP-FoE_on_offseting.pdf Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the World Wildlife Fund have all discounted it as a way off offsetting.However, I really think that carbon offsetting can make a difference. I only offset using high quality CER-based carbon offsets from companies such as http://www.clear-offset.com/ essentially allow private individuals to invest in green technologies that wouldn\’t necessarily make commercial sense otherwise.If the powers that can\’t build a biomass plant or hydro dam as it\’s too expensive, then have a guess what they\’re going to build instead – yup, yet more coal / oil / gas fired power stations. The other thing is that most CO2 calculations are based on the fact that a tree will offset some carbon over the next 100 years. Carbon Credit savings must have already happened to be sold.Carbon Offsetting is not a bad thing, in fact it can be very positive – it\’s just been done in the past by the wrong methods (planting trees and treadle pumps), by the wrong people (those looking to make a quick buck). Open your eyes and take another look….

By: Denis streeter

Denis streeter — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:43:04 +0000

I AM writing to subscribe to the excellent contribution of Mr.Ajan Fofanah, about the legal hurdles of doing business with China. I would like to add that China’s family oriented business model is sometimes difficult to understand and interprete. They are more relationship oriented than legally minded. This is not a bad model, but as Mr. Ajan Fofanah promounced, one should ready to face the legal dilemas of doing business there.

By: Ajan Fofanah

Ajan Fofanah — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:37:35 +0000

I do not expect the US to fund a forest reserve in China. The US has a vast area of land that is quite suitable to establish a forest. Therefore, funding the project in China will only deprive the US workforce of jobs that they could have accessed at home. Secondly, China’s joint ventures or strategic alliances are sometimes frought with complicated legal hurdles, which are not always clearly visible or foreseable.

By: Murray

Murray — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:45:09 +0000

A huge challenge, to be sure.For anyone out there who is personally interested in calculating their own carbon footprint or starting their own Carbon Offset website (raise awareness and make commission!), look at http://www.carbonadvicegroup.com- a great way to address your communities carbon footprint as a social entrepreneur.

By: buffalojump

buffalojump — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:51:04 +0000

Excellent point Heather. Why is this happening?

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:10:07 +0000

It is interesting that the media attacked the three car maker CEO’s for their use of pruvate jets, but not a word about the number of private jets liberal well-wishers used to get to DC for to see Obama.There were so many private jets that the DC airport had to close a runway just to park them!I am sure many of them were owned by the Hollywood elite; who will get back on their private jet and fly home and begin anew to tell THE REST OF US how our energy use is destroying the planet!

By: Guillaume Cingal

Guillaume Cingal — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:32:05 +0000

Though I concur with previous writers, inasmuch as it’s quite ludicrous to read such a comment on the part of a Chinese citizen, may I remind everyone that the US has so far refused to sign the Kyoto protocol, or any of the following, and also that, even though Mr Obama has promised a lot in terms of environment, most people still have doubts that he can turn around the powerful “polluting lobbies”… Besides, no one has addressed the real point in Lin Hui’s address : is it really a good symbol to generate 220,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide for a mere inauguration… Sacrifices will need to be made !

By: buffalojump

buffalojump — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:14:36 +0000

Lynn, the climate is changing, an increase in insects is occuring and the western forests are going up in smoke because they are becoming overgrown and thus increasing the fuel for forest fires.

By: taehoon

taehoon — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:39:19 +0000

In honor of our new president, Lin, the Chinese should plant a tree themselves. I like that thought ‘realmerv’ about planting trees in west Africa. Would that really work out and what would be your source besides you saying that it makes sense.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:04:10 +0000

Perhaps the effort could be symbolic and serve as proof that Obama wants conservation to be a part of global efforts.