The lamestream media told you:
Al Gore, in an effort to reduce global warming and help save the planet, buys “carbon offsets” to compensate for his “carbon footprint” and reduce the “net carbon emissions” generated by his 26,000 square foot home and frequent jet trips around the world to speaking engagements. This makes Gore’s larger-than-lifestyle “carbon neutral.”
The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
Al Gore buys his so-called carbon offsets from a firm he owns, a possibly deceptive practice now called “greenwashing.” Many greenwashing schemes are spreading, playing on people’s fears and ignorance. Gore is chairman of the London-based company, Generation Investment Management, according to WorldNetDaily.
The Center for Media and Democracy reports that, “Deborah Majoras, chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission feels that with the tremendous growth in the field, there is potential for abuse of the public’s trust. The last revision of the FTC’s environmental advertising guidelines was in 1997, and did not include terms common today, like sustainability, carbon offsets or renewable energy.
“As more companies use offset programs to create an environmental halo over their products, the commission said it was growing increasingly concerned that some green marketing assertions were not substantiated.” She’s being too kind.
A simple Google search reveals thousands of scam-looking operators seeking money to clear a consumer’s conscience with unverifiable promises to plant trees somewhere and no measurable or scientific information whatsoever. Further details here.
