Clip File: Friends of the Earth Warns That Relying on Offsets Can Lead to Climate Disaster

Report exposes carbon offsets as a dangerous gimmick
The controversial practice of carbon offsetting, via which U.S. polluters send money overseas in exchange for promised — and often pretend — pollution reductions elsewhere, came under fire today in a new report published by Friends of the Earth. Offsets are a centerpiece of the energy bill that passed the House of Representatives in June, and they may be included in soon-to-be-introduced legislation in the Senate. The report explains how offsets work and concludes that they are a flawed approach to combating global warming. -- from the press release for A Dangerous Distraction: Why Offsets Are a Mistake the U.S. Cannot Afford to Make (Friends of the Earth).