New Internationalist

Co2nned

As concern about climate change grows and our profligate use of fossil fuels continues unchecked, many companies, governments and individuals have been turning to ‘carbon offsets’ for a cheap and easy option to reduce their contribution to global warming. This issue explores the thorny and complex issues behind the emerging ‘carbon offset’ industry, the communities negatively affected by so-called climate friendly projects, and what really needs to happen to counter climate change.

July 2006, Issue 391

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Other ways to explore New Internationalist: Sample our past issues • Browse by theme

Features

If you go down to the woods today...
The carbon offset industry can't see the wood for the trees, argues Adam Ma'anit.
10 things you should know about tree offsets
Forest and climate change campaigner Jutta Kill explains why planting trees is no substitute for reducing pollution.
Forest fever
It’s 2010. Brazilian activists Marcelo Calazans and Renata Valentim imagine what the future might look like if the carbon market continues to grow.
Blinded by the light
Trusha Reddy discovers why a climate project in South Africa isn’t really switched on.
Carbon offsets - the facts
Uprooted
Restoring the rainforest or destroying people’s lives? Timothy Byakola and Chris Lang find organizations have much to answer for in Uganda.
Please do not sponsor this tree!
Raised voices on climate change.
Action on carbon offsets
Don’t be ‘neutral’ on climate change, be positive!

Regulars

Currents: Iran - hear us, not our government!
Currents: New nation falters
News of soldiers in revolt in Timor-Leste
Currents: Cholera grips Angola
News of the terrifying cholera epidemic in Angola
Seriously... Tribe unwanted
Polyp's Big Bad World cartoon
An unlikely Second Coming in a gospel according to Polyp.
Worldbeaters: Bill Gates
Bully-boy monopolist turned mega-philanthropist: Bill Gates looks down on the world from Olympian heights of wealth. But the Vista before him is looking ever more troubled.
Music review: Ama
Music review: Rise Up
Film review: Wal-Mart: the high cost at low price
Film review: Heading South
Book review: Body Count
Book review: A Life Elsewhere
Book review: Following Them Home
Southern Exposure
Housing themselves. Urban action in São Paulo caught by Carlos Cazalis.
View from Western Sahara
Saharawis abandoned warfare and eschewed terrorism, placing their trust in international law and the United Nations. Now look how they’ve been rewarded. Kamal Fadel feels betrayed.
Essay: The happiness conspiracy
What is happiness? John F Schumaker argues our socio-economic system is designed to spew out citizens eternally in search of satisfaction.
Speechmarks: Franklin D Roosevelt
Making Waves: Annie Kajir
Annie Kajir – the lawyer who won’t be scared off by the robber barons of Papua New Guinea’s timber industry.
Letter from Mauritius
Country Profile: Gabon