May 21, 2007

GAO Asked to Probe "Carbon Offsets"

Two members of Congress have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the growing business of selling "carbon offsets," those modern-day environmental "indulgences" that let individuals and organizations claim to be "carbon neutral" in terms of their carbon dioxide emissions. About 60 different companies sell carbon offsets to U.S. consumers but operate under virtually no standards.

At first glance, the GAO doesn't seem like the right body to investigate carbon offsets - it exists, after all, to audit/investigate government agencies and programs. But there's a reason the request makes sense - a very good reason: Congress is considering multiple bills this year to curb global warming, including a proposal to require federal agencies to use a portion of their budgets to buy offsets. I have details on the possible GAO probe, and the legislation that would result in tax dollars going to carbon offsets sellers, in this post at Ecotality

Also, if you're interested, I've posted a copy of the Congressional Research Service report, Climate Change: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bills in the 110th Congress, at Ecotality. The report provides a side-by-side-by-side comparison of the various major legislation pending in Congress on greenhouse gas reduction.