Horizons

Cancel out your carbon:Do you see carbon-offsetting as the ultimate guilt-free solution to global warming? Or put simply, next time you take a flight, will you plant a tree or find someone who will do so on your behalf? According to an article in this month's New Scientist, the market in so-called environmental absolution is remarkably unregulated.

Writer Fred Pearse has no issues with official offsetters, ie those sanctioned under the Kyoto protocol, which allow governments and companies to earn and trade carbon credits on international emissions trading markets. He does, however, have grave concerns about the 30 or so charitable and profit-making bodies that charge a fee to organise offsets on your behalf. For instance, how companies calculate each individual offset varies hugely (scientific debate about how to do this is also ongoing). Then, once calculated, the fees to offset also vary and there's the risk that some unscrupulous companies may sell offsets more than once.

Another issue is whether tree-planting or renewable energy projects are better offset projects. Should we be offsetting our carbon emissions by planting trees in our own countries or is that the responsibility of our own governments who need to do some carbon offsetting themselves? Or should we be offsetting our emissions only by funding renewable energy projects in the developing world where local communities can't afford to make the switch to cleaner technologies themselves?

Countrywide clean-up

The annual anti-litter initiative coordinated by An Taisce begins this weekend. Now in its ninth year, the month-long National Spring Clean has grown hugely. Last year, more than 340,000 people participated in over 3,500 clean-up events. This year, the objectives are to galvanise the practices of recycling and reuse, to further increase the number of events and participants throughout April, to promote personal responsibility for litter and to heighten awareness of litter and waste issues. For more information, see www.nationalspringclean.org or contact An Taisce on tel: 01-4002219, e-mail nsc@antaisce.org

Construction with confidence

With energy costs increasing, homeowners are keener than ever to use energy efficiently in their homes. Those keen to understand the principles and practices should check out a new course on energy efficiency in the home, starting next Thursday in Cultivate, Temple Bar, Dublin. By the end of the six sessions, participants should have enough knowledge to manage a new build or renovation. The course is run in association with The Village eco-community in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary and the Environmental And Sustainable Construction Association (Easca). Cost €150 (€120 for Cultivate members and €135 for Village and Easca members). For more information, see http://www.sustainable.ie/ cultivate/learning/green_building.htm or tel: 01-6746396.

Hike by the hedgerows

The Ballyboughal Hedgerow Society will organise a countryside walk next Saturday at 2pm. Contact Ann Lynch on 086-3638487 to arrange a lift.

Ecoweb

www.risingtide.org.uk

This website is a conduit for a network of groups and individuals taking local action to build a movement against the root causes of climate change. Similar networks also exist in North America and Australia.