Posted by
Thomas on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 1:40:10 PM
In today's National Review Online, Jay Nordlinger, reporting from the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos, notes that he received
an invitation to make his presence in Davos "carbon-neutral":
"
The World Economic Forum sends us all a bulletin, via our WEF e-mail accounts: “Climate Change: Make Davos Greenhouse Gas Neutral.” The notice goes on to say,
Climate Change is at the centre of our discussions, and you can act now. Please consider compensating your greenhouse gas emissions related to participating in the Annual Meeting in Davos.
This is possible with 1 click at any kiosk or at the Davos Climate Alliance desk.
Many thanks for your help.
Don’t be emittin’ without remittin’! Replace your carbon footprint with cash! At least, I think that’s how it goes . . ."
I remember Al Gore announcing that he was "carbon-neutral," when somebody pointed out how much carbon he pumps into the atmosphere jetting around the globe for publicity events (not to mention heating and cooling his two sizeable houses). The idea is that he buys "carbon credits," paying others to stop emitting carbon, to offset his own gas emissions.
Maybe I could phrase that last bit better...
The whole thing strikes me as something Martin Luther and Johann Tetzel would have recognized: Spew out as much C02 as you like -- but make sure you buy a Carbon Indulgence, drawing on the Treasury of Merit. "When the coin in the coffer springs/Your conscience from greenhouse purgatory springs."
It's a nice enough approach, although not particularly practical to those of us unwashed masses who can't afford Herr Tetzel's offerings.