United|JJ carbon|NN offset|VBD disappointment|NN April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 9:08|NN AM|NNP I|PRP 'm|VBP a|DT big|JJ believer|NN in|IN carbon|NN offsets|NNS (|( not|RB so|RB much|JJ the|DT cap|NN and|CC trade|NN game|NN ,|, but|CC in|IN the|DT simple|JJ internalize-your-externality-sort|JJ )|) .|. 
I|PRP talk|VBP about|IN it|PRP in|IN my|PRP$ Green|NNP Culture|NNP talk|NN .|. 
IMHO|NNP ,|, we|PRP all|DT have|VBP an|DT ethical|JJ obligation|NN to|TO offset|VB our|PRP$ carbon|NN footprint|NN --|: now|RB .|. 
My|PRP$ wife|NN and|CC I|PRP have|VBP been|VBN doing|VBG so|RB for|IN a|DT couple|NN years|NNS .|. 
We|PRP 're|VBP a|DT couple|NN months|NNS late|JJ buying|NN credits|NNS for|IN last|JJ year|NN .|. 

One|CD reason|NN we|PRP 're|VBP late|JJ (|( other|JJ than|IN the|DT obvious|JJ )|) is|VBZ the|DT insane|JJ complexity|NN in|IN calculating|VBG it|PRP well|RB .|. 
I|PRP travel|VBP way|NN too|RB much|JJ .|. 
That|DT 's|VBZ the|DT biggest|JJS chunk|NN to|TO cover|VB .|. 
But|CC to|TO calculate|VB it|PRP accurately|RB requires|VBZ churning|VBG through|IN a|DT pile|NN of|IN flights|NNS .|. 
I|PRP could|MD estimate|VB ,|, no|DT doubt|NN .|. 
But|CC I|PRP want|VBP something|NN more|RBR accurate|JJ .|. 

So|IN I|PRP was|VBD really|RB happy|JJ to|TO see|VB on|IN the|DT United|NNP page|NN an|DT announcement|NN of|IN a|DT "|'' Carbon|NNP Offset|NNP Program|NNP .|. "|'' 
What|WP I|PRP expected|VBD it|PRP to|TO be|VB was|VBD a|DT simple|JJ way|NN to|TO at|IN least|JJS know|VB what|WP the|DT total|JJ carbon|NN footprint|NN from|IN your|PRP$ flights|NNS for|IN some|DT period|NN was|VBD (|( after|IN all|DT ,|, they|PRP have|VBP all|PDT the|DT data|NN )|) ,|, and|CC ideally|RB ,|, a|DT simple|JJ way|NN to|TO buy|VB offsets|NNS .|. 

No|DT such|JJ luck|NN .|. 
United|NNP has|VBZ simple|JJ linked|VBN to|TO one|CD of|IN the|DT million|CD places|NNS where|WRB you|PRP can|MD calculate|VB a|DT per|IN flight|NN carbon|NN cost|NN .|. 
It|PRP 
allows|VBZ you|PRP to|TO input|NN total|JJ miles|NNS flown|VBN ,|, but|CC its|PRP$ Mileage|NNP Plus|NNP page|NN does|VBZ n't|RB give|VB you|PRP total|JJ miles|NNS flown|VBN ,|, it|PRP gives|VBZ you|PRP the|DT 
total|NN added|VBD to|TO your|PRP$ account|NN (|( included|VBD bonuses|NNS ,|, etc.|NN )|) 

Looking|VBG forward|RB to|TO version|NN 2.0|CD .|. 

Posted|VBN by|IN Lawrence|NNP Lessig|NNP on|IN April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 9:08|NN AM|NNP 

Comments|NNS (|( 14|CD )|) April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 9:42|NN AM|NNP 
Peter|NNP Collopy|NNP :|: Dopplr|NNP has|VBZ a|DT nice|JJ carbon|NN calculator|NN built-in|JJ .|. 
You|PRP have|VBP to|TO enter|VB all|DT your|PRP$ trips|NNS ,|, but|CC I|PRP think|VBP it|PRP 's|VBZ generally|RB an|DT exciting|JJ system|NN if|IN you|PRP do|VBP n't|RB mind|VB the|DT Little|NNP Brother|NNP surveillance|NN .|. 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 9:49|NN AM|NNP lessig|NN :|: GREAT|JJ point|NN .|. I|PRP do|VBP enter|VB all|DT mine|NN in|IN .|. 
Perfect|NNP solution|NN .|. 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 9:53|NN AM|NNP 
Padraic|NNP :|: Why|WRB are|VBP n't|RB you|PRP a|DT supporter|NN of|IN cap|NN &|CC trade|NN ?|. 
Is|VBZ n't|RB a|DT mandatory|JJ scheme|NN going|VBG to|TO moresuccesful|JJ than|IN voluntary|JJ measures|NNS ?|. 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 10:20|NN AM|NNP lessig|NN :|: I|PRP favor|VBP a|DT mandatory|JJ scheme|NN --|: internalize|NN your|PRP$ externality|NN .|. 
I|PRP am|VBP suspicious|JJ of|IN cap|NN &|CC trade|NN .|. 
It|PRP seems|VBZ like|IN a|DT complicated|VBN partial|JJ version|NN of|IN that|DT ,|, created|VBN by|IN the|DT same|JJ genius|NN quants|NNS who|WP gave|VBD us|PRP the|DT mess|NN on|IN wall|NN street|NN ,|, that|WDT is|VBZ designed|VBN to|TO generate|VB large|JJ fees|NNS finance|NN types|NNS .|. 
My|PRP$ sense|NN is|VBZ for|IN a|DT simpler|JJR system|NN .|. 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 12:07|NN PM|NNP Padraic|NNP Ryan|NNP :|: Re|NNP :|: cap|NN &|CC trade|NN -|: you|PRP should|MD n't|RB use|VB the|DT financial|JJ crisis|NN as|IN an|DT excuse|NN to|TO write|VB off|RP all|DT of|IN economics|NNS .|. 
A|DT cap|NN &|CC trade|NN system|NN worked|VBD very|RB well|RB at|IN reducing|VBG sulfur|NN dioxide|NN pollution|NN in|IN the|DT US|NNP ,|, finance|NN types|NNS and|CC all|DT .|. 
You|PRP 're|VBP right|NN that|IN a|DT carbon|NN tax|NN is|VBZ definitely|RB simpler|JJR ,|, but|CC there|EX are|VBP upsides|NNS to|TO cap|VB &|CC trade|NN as|RB well|RB (|( such|JJ as|IN the|DT fact|NN that|IN the|DT market|NN will|MD drive|VB the|DT price|NN up|RB ,|, whereas|IN a|DT tax|NN wo|MD n't|RB increase|VB unless|IN Congress|NNP wants|VBZ it|PRP to|TO )|) .|. 

Re|NNP :|: your|PRP$ green|JJ culture|NN talk|NN ,|, I|PRP think|VBP you|PRP are|VBP misappropriating|VBG the|DT Gore|NNP clip|NN :|: is|VBZ n't|RB he|PRP saying|VBG that|IN your|PRP$ money|NN would|MD be|VB better|JJR spent|VBN on|IN political|JJ candidates|NNS and|CC organizations|NNS that|WDT push|VBP for|IN mandatory|JJ internalizing|VBG of|IN externalities|NNS (|( changing|VBG the|DT laws|NNS )|) instead|RB of|IN on|IN carbon|NN offsets|NNS (|( changing|VBG the|DT lightbulbs|NNS )|) ?|. 
My|PRP$ problem|NN with|IN carbon|NN offsets|NNS and|CC other|JJ voluntary|JJ measures|NNS is|VBZ that|WDT given|VBN the|DT finite|JJ amount|NN of|IN money|NN ,|, energy|NN and|CC attention|NN we|PRP have|VBP to|TO push|VB for|IN the|DT environment|NN ,|, I|PRP feel|VBP like|IN the|DT opportunity|NN cost|NN of|IN these|DT measures|NNS is|VBZ too|RB high|JJ compared|VBN to|TO policy-oriented|JJ actions|NNS ,|, the|DT citizen|NN role|NN that|IN Gore|NNP referred|VBD .|. 
For|IN example|NN ,|, Earth|NNP Hour|NNP would|MD be|VB much|RB more|RBR productive|JJ if|IN it|PRP were|VBD a|DT global|JJ rally|NN for|IN carbon|NN taxes|NNS ;|: instead|RB we|PRP de-politicize|JJ it|PRP and|CC entertain|VB the|DT idea|NN that|IN voluntarily|RB turning|VBG off|RP lights|NNS will|MD stop|VB climate|NN change|NN .|. 

I|PRP 'm|VBP a|DT big|JJ fan|NN of|IN your|PRP$ work|NN on|IN IP|NNP and|CC corruption|NN ,|, but|CC I|PRP 'm|VBP skeptical|JJ of|IN these|DT initial|JJ ventures|NNS into|IN the|DT environmental|JJ arena|NN ...|... 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 12:17|NN PM|NNP mark|NN :|: "|'' I|PRP am|VBP suspicious|JJ of|IN cap|NN &|CC trade|NN .|. 
It|PRP seems|VBZ like|IN a|DT complicated|VBN partial|JJ version|NN of|IN that|DT ,|, created|VBN by|IN the|DT same|JJ genius|NN quants|NNS who|WP gave|VBD us|PRP the|DT mess|NN on|IN wall|NN street|NN ,|, that|WDT is|VBZ designed|VBN to|TO generate|VB large|JJ fees|NNS finance|NN types|NNS .|. 
My|PRP$ sense|NN is|VBZ for|IN a|DT simpler|JJR system|NN .|. "|'' 

That|DT just|RB shows|VBZ you|PRP do|VBP not|RB fully|RB understand|VB the|DT cap|NN and|CC trade|NN model|NN .|. ...|... or|CC the|DT global|JJ financial|JJ crisis|NN .|. 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 2:51|NN PMCathy|NNP :|: When|WRB you|PRP book|NN a|DT route|NN on|IN United|NNP it|PRP tells|VBZ you|PRP how|WRB many|JJ miles|NNS it|PRP will|MD accrue|VB ,|, pre-bonus|JJ ,|, for|IN each|DT leg|NN .|. 
(|( I|NN use|VBP it|PRP to|TO calculate|VB how|WRB many|JJ I|PRP 'll|MD get|VB towards|IN my|PRP$ premier|NN status|NN .|. )|) 
It|PRP 's|VBZ a|DT tiny|JJ link|NN they|PRP move|VBP around|IN from|IN time|NN to|TO time|NN ,|, but|CC look|VB for|IN it|PRP near|IN where|WRB the|DT seat|NN selection|NN option|NN is|VBZ .|. 
You|PRP should|MD see|VB this|DT on|IN a|DT screen|NN before|IN you|PRP purchase|VBP the|DT ticket|NN ,|, and|CC possibly|RB also|RB after|IN .|. 

April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 4:45|NN PM|NNP Brad|NNP Templeton|NNP :|: When|WRB I|PRP got|VBD to|TO United|NNP 's|POS site|NN it|PRP has|VBZ two|CD columns|NNS ,|, one|CD for|IN true|JJ miles|NNS flown|VBN (|( sort|NN of|IN )|) and|CC one|CD for|IN elite|NN bonus|NN .|. 
So|RB cut|VB and|CC paste|NN into|IN your|PRP$ spreadsheet|NN and|CC it|PRP should|MD be|VB fine|NN .|. 
However|RB ,|, it|PRP does|VBZ show|NN 500|CD for|IN the|DT short|JJ haul|NN flights|NNS ,|, but|CC I|PRP bet|VBD those|DT are|VBP mostly|RB L.A.|NNP so|IN you|PRP can|MD fill|VB in|IN the|DT real|JJ mileage|NN to|TO L.A.|NN on|IN those|DT ,|, it|PRP should|MD not|RB take|VB long|JJ .|. 
April|NNP 27|CD ,|, 2009|CD 6:03|NN PMYaacov|NNP Iland|NNP :|: I|PRP 'd|MD check|VB into|IN the|DT effectiveness|NN of|IN carbon|NN offsets|NNS ,|, particularly|RB tree|NN plantations|NNS ,|, before|IN spending|VBG money|NN on|IN them|PRP :|: http://www.newint.org/features/2006/07/01/keynote/|NN 

April|NNP 28|CD ,|, 2009|CD 9:03|NN AM|NNP Jardinero|NNP 1|CD :|: The|DT only|JJ way|NN to|TO reduce|VB your|PRP$ carbon|NN footprint|NN ,|, is|VBZ to|TO reduce|VB your|PRP$ carbon|NN footprint|NN ,|, period|NN .|. 
Paying|VBG someone|NN else|RB to|TO do|VB something|NN they|PRP are|VBP doing|VBG ,|, already|RB ,|, does|VBZ not|RB reduce|VB your|PRP$ carbon|NN footprint|NN one|CD bit|NN .|. 

If|IN you|PRP do|VBP n't|RB believe|VB that|IN and|CC still|RB insist|VBP on|IN paying|VBG someone|NN else|RB to|TO consume|VB less|JJR ,|, then|RB please|VB consider|VB paying|VBG me|PRP .|. 
My|PRP$ wife|NN and|CC I|PRP telecommute|NN .|. 
We|PRP rarely|RB travel|VBP .|. 
I|PRP ride|VBP my|PRP$ bike|NN to|TO the|DT grocery|NN store|NN .|. 
We|PRP cook|NN from|IN whole|JJ ingredients|NNS and|CC never|RB eat|VB processed|VBN or|CC prepared|VBN foods|NNS .|. 
Both|DT of|IN our|PRP$ cars|NNS are|VBP high|JJ mpg|NN and|CC rarely|RB used|VBN .|. 
They|PRP are|VBP both|DT ten|CD years|NNS old|JJ and|CC we|PRP probably|RB wo|MD n't|RB replace|VB them|PRP for|IN another|DT ten|CD years|NNS .|. 
I|PRP just|RB finished|VBD insulating|VBG my|PRP$ house|NN and|CC installed|VBN high|JJ efficiency|NN windows|NNS and|CC HVAC|NNP .|. 
I|PRP keep|VBP the|DT thermostat|NN high|JJ in|IN the|DT summer|NN and|CC low|JJ in|IN the|DT winter|NN .|. 
All|DT the|DT light|JJ bulbs|NNS are|VBP fluorescent|NN ,|, except|IN for|IN the|DT dimmer|NN above|IN the|DT dining|NN room|NN table|NN .|. 
I|PRP removed|VBD all|PDT the|DT turf|NN from|IN my|PRP$ property|NN and|CC replaced|VBD it|PRP with|IN vines|NNS and|CC perennials|NNS .|. 
There|EX are|VBP twenty|CD three|CD trees|NNS on|IN the|DT property|NN sequestering|NN CO2|NNP on|IN a|DT continuous|JJ basis|NN .|. 
No|DT motorized|JJ equipment|NN is|VBZ required|VBN to|TO maintain|VB my|PRP$ garden|NN which|WDT is|VBZ now|RB over|IN ten|CD thousand|CD square|JJ feet|NNS of|IN CO2|NNP consuming|NN plants|NNS .|. 

I|PRP would|MD gladly|RB accept|VB the|DT sum|NN of|IN fifteen|NN thousand|CD dollars|NNS from|IN Prof|NNP Lessig|NNP or|CC anyone|NN else|RB to|TO offset|VB his|PRP$ carbon|NN heavy|JJ lifestyle|NN .|. 
In|IN return|NN ,|, I|PRP would|MD submit|VB to|TO an|DT audit|NN of|IN my|PRP$ lifestyle|NN and|CC I|PRP would|MD issue|VB him|PRP a|DT certificate|NN stating|VBG the|DT amount|NN of|IN his|PRP$ carbon|NN offset|VBN .|. 

April|NNP 29|CD ,|, 2009|CD 4:00|NN AM|NNP Eric|NNP the|DT Red|NNP :|: Carbon|NNP credits|NNS :|: indulgences|NNS for|IN the|DT non-|NN Catholic|NNP crowd|NN .|. 
More|RBR modern|JJ ,|, but|CC just|RB as|IN dumb|JJ .|. 

April|NNP 29|CD ,|, 2009|CD 7:18|NN AM|NNP pb|NN :|: "|'' we|PRP all|DT have|VBP an|DT ethical|JJ obligation|NN to|TO offset|VB our|PRP$ carbon|NN footprint|NN --|: now|RB "|'' 

There|EX is|VBZ nothing|NN so|RB dangerous|JJ as|IN someone|NN with|IN an|DT abundance|NN of|IN self-righteousness|NN but|CC very|RB little|JJ knowledge|NN .|. 

Carbon|NNP offsets|NNS '|POS harm|NN environment|NN '|'' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6378471.stm|NN Tuesday|NNP ,|, 20|CD February|NNP 2007|CD ,|, 17:31|NN GMT|NNP 

Jutta|NNP Kill|VB ,|, of|IN the|DT Forests|NNP and|CC the|DT European|NNP Union|NNP Resource|NNP Network|NNP (|( FERN|NNP )|) ,|, was|VBD the|DT most|RBS vehement|JJ opponent|NN of|IN the|DT practice|NN ,|, arguing|VBG it|PRP probably|RB did|VBD more|JJR harm|NN than|IN good|NN .|. 

Carbon|NNP offsetting|VBG was|VBD "|'' an|DT unbelievably|RB inefficient|JJ way|NN of|IN reducing|VBG emissions|NNS ,|, "|'' she|PRP argued|VBD ,|, and|CC its|PRP$ effects|NNS were|VBD impossible|JJ to|TO verify|VB .|. 

In|IN addition|NN ,|, "|'' More|JJR than|IN half|NN "|'' of|IN the|DT money|NN given|VBN to|TO companies|NNS selling|VBG carbon|NN offsets|NNS went|VBD on|IN research|NN and|CC administration|NN costs|NNS ,|, "|'' benefiting|VBG not|RB the|DT climate|NN but|CC the|DT burgeoning|VBG consultancy|NN industry|NN "|'' .|. 

"|'' We|PRP believe|VBP it|PRP is|VBZ worse|JJR than|IN nothing|NN because|IN it|PRP creates|VBZ the|DT illusion|NN ,|, or|CC the|DT impression|NN ,|, in|IN the|DT public|NN that|DT action|NN is|VBZ being|VBG taken|VBN ,|, while|IN we|PRP are|VBP not|RB really|RB addressing|VBG the|DT task|NN at|IN hand|NN ,|, significantly|RB reducing|VBG greenhouse|NN gas|NN emissions|NNS ,|, "|'' Ms|NNP Kill|VB told|VBD MPs|NNP .|. 

Illusions|NNP are|VBP powerful|JJ around|IN here|RB ,|, it|PRP seems|VBZ .|. 
Professor|NNP -|: stop|VB listening|VBG to|TO your|PRP$ "|'' intuitions|NNS "|'' and|CC do|VBP some|DT basic|JJ research|NN !|. 

May|NNP 14|CD ,|, 2009|CD 2:45|NN PM|NNP Jason|NNP Sperling|NNP :|: It|PRP 's|VBZ nice|JJ to|TO see|VB feedback|NN on|IN the|DT United|NNP program|NN .|. 
I|PRP 've|VBP posted|VBN your|PRP$ feedback|NN on|IN my|PRP$ carbon|NN offsets|NNS news|NN blog|NN .|. 

Currently|RB many|JJ companies|NNS are|VBP reticent|JJ to|TO putting|VBG something|NN in|IN their|PRP$ purchase|NN path|NN as|IN an|DT upsell|NN ,|, just|RB as|IN they|PRP are|VBP reticent|JJ to|TO putting|VBG anything|NN in|IN their|PRP$ purchase|NN path|NN .|. 
The|DT cost|NN for|IN large|JJ companies|NNS to|TO make|VB any|DT updates|NNS to|TO their|PRP$ e-commerce|JJ sites|NNS is|VBZ significant|JJ ,|, another|DT factor|NN in|IN keeping|VBG the|DT type|NN of|IN program|NN you|PRP 'd|MD like|VB from|IN being|VBG available|JJ .|. 
Additionally|RB ,|, there|EX is|VBZ a|DT reluctance|NN to|TO share|VB the|DT data|NNS required|VBN for|IN accurate|JJ emissions|NNS measurement|NN due|JJ to|TO perceived|VBN potential|JJ risks|NNS ,|, possibly|RB related|VBN to|TO future|JJ regulatory|JJ concerns|NNS .|. 

The|DT technology|NN is|VBZ certainly|RB available|JJ .|. 
When|WRB the|DT type|NN of|IN program|NN you|PRP imagine|VBP IS|VBZ put|VB in|IN place|NN ,|, the|DT results|NNS have|VBP been|VBN very|RB good|JJ .|. 
For|IN example|NN ShopGreen|NNP Merchant|NN Reports|NNS 90|CD %|NN of|IN customers|NNS '|POS go|NN green|JJ '|POS 

June|NNP 10|CD ,|, 2009|CD 12:18|NN PM|NNP jason|NN :|: check|NN out|RP this|DT great|JJ new|JJ idea|NN to|TO offset|VB 
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/man-auctions-own-carbon-offsets-on-ebay.php|NN 

Here|RB 's|VBZ the|DT link|NN to|TO the|DT auction|NN 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320381623555&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT|NN 

