MAIN Society Go Green Guides Carbon Exchange

Carbon exchanges are markets where people, businesses or countries can purchase carbon credits from other people, businesses, or countries that reduced carbon output in some way.

Within the carbon exchange industry there are two different carbon exchange markets.

One market is a compulsory carbon exchange that many businesses and countries belong to. The other, much smaller market is a voluntary carbon exchange market where people, organizations and businesses buy carbon credits to offset unsustainable practices.

Carbon exchange pros and cons

Carbon exchanges may sound good in theory, but in practice the buying and selling of carbon credits has many critics. Obviously, a carbon exchange market requires a great deal of oversight, regulation, and certification; all of which, some critics believe, are still lacking.

Others point out that carbon exchanges are simply a way for rich people to indulge without having to actually change their polluting behavior, while some critics question the effectiveness of some of the carbon reduction techniques that carbon credit sellers use to generate credits.

Criticisms aside though, a carbon exchange market is an excellent way to bring the seemingly disparate fields of business and environmental sustainability together, to work toward a common goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is a practice that will continue to evolve and refine itself as it becomes more popular and more widely implemented in the future.

Reducing your own carbon footprint

Carbon footprint calculators are what is used to calculate carbon pollution. They take in to account a wide variety of variables that contribute to global warming and carbon in the atmosphere in some way such as travel, factory emissions, or power usage. From a survey of these activities, the carbon footprint calculator is able to determine how much carbon is being released into the atmosphere.

Of course, carbon exchanges aren't the only way to reduce one's contribution of carbon to the atmosphere. Reducing travel, lowering heat and electricity consumption at home, finding more energy efficient ways to commute to work such as cycling or carpooling, and eating or buying food locally are all ways to reduce the amount of carbon one contributes to the atmosphere.

More information on carbon exchange and reducing your carbon footprint around the Web:

Carbon Footprint.com - Extensive information on global warming, greenhouse gas emissions and ways to help reduce personal carbon emissions in the home or workplace including a carbon footprint calculator and related resources.

Global Footprint Network - A major clearinghouse of data from countries, cities, businesses and individuals providing standards and case histories, current reports and news releases, personal footprint quiz and calculator, FAQ, free newsletter.

Adventures with Bobbie Bigfoot - Interactive, kid-friendly quiz with focus on what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint at home or at school, including teacher resources and related lesson plans.