Parcel - February 2008 - (Page 14) Greenhouse gas emissions and their environmental impact have become increasingly worrisome to government officials, the public and a number of companies. Consequently, a voluntary carbon market has emerged in the US. The voluntary carbon market also exists even in those countries where carbon is regulated, Settelmyer adds. Certain industries, such as media, are not governed by the Kyoto Protocol requirements, but companies like News Corp. are participating in the carbon market nonetheless, purchasing offsets and reducing their carbon in an effort to go “carbon neutral.” Carbon Offsets for Shipping Carbon offset companies began appearing in the early part of the decade. These companies allow individuals, businesses and organizations to offset their emissions by funding carbon offset projects such as forestry, renewable energy or industrial gas projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many see carbon offsets that directly target shipping emissions as a way to do something now, rather than wait for the slow wheels of legislation to turn. Although carbon offsets have been maligned by some as an easy way out of fixing emissions-related problems, they can provide an important part of the solution. Offsets help to remove pollutants from the atmosphere or prevent or reduce emissions and, in conjunction with legislation, innovation and corporate responsibility, can help to mitigate the impacts of the shipping industry. Climate Legislation Catches up to the Shipping Industry Legislation is currently in the works in Europe to cap shipping emissions in much the same way that carbon emissions are already capped according to the Kyoto Protocol. In the US, some state governments are looking into requiring the 14 February 2008 www.PARCELindustry.com http://parcel.bluewaterconsolidators.com http://parcel.bluewaterconsolidators.com http://www.PARCELindustry.com
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