You take public transportation to work, use energy-saving lightbulbs and turn off the air conditioner when you're not home — but still you feel somewhat guilty that your lifestyle isn't totally pollution-free. The federal government may have an answer for you. For years, companies have been allowed to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing 'carbon offsets' — vouchers for investment in alternative energy sources, tree-planting and other projects that can mitigate global warming. Now the idea is spreading to individuals, with the Forest Service's announcement Wednesday that it will be the first federal agency to offer personal carbon offsets through an initiative called the Carbon Capital Fund. (Los Angeles Times, Thursday)
The scent of a gimmick.
FEE Timely Classic
Saving the Environment for a Profit, Victorian-Style by Pierre Desrochers