Of sin, atonement, and carbon offsets

[Vinodh Valluri]

I will keep matters simple by reassuring you of one thing before any drama builds up to a disconcerting crescendo. There are no religious overtones herein, the theme of what follows is very much iconoclastic. You see, the issue - one of sin and atonement on a planet of mortals - deems no deeper analysis than things Divine would summon.

Humanity is sinning against reason by over-consuming the very things that allow life to exist on our planet. The culprits standing in public light now plead guilty, and wish to atone by means of a new commodity - carbon credits. In a world where global weirding (I choose not to use 'warming') is inevitably posed to cause the human world to shift and shuffle uncomfortably, the scions of Shylock can barely resist the opportunity to roll some dough in this dire disaster. For the layman sitting in these courts of questionable justice, it seems that the balance sheets have been settled, and that justice has been done.

Fortunately, the blindfolds that cover the eyes of Justice will not quell the curiosity of more sobered inquirers. Carbon credits have not been successful as measures to bring about economic stability, environmental purity or social justice; the point has been proven in cases less obscure than the 'Coldplay forest' in southern Karnataka. From the casual Airline passenger to the professional steel-tycoon, every carbon conscious person seeks means to 'help' the environment by buying carbon credits to offset their emissions.

However, credits boil down to something akin to post-dated checks - by the time the check did come in, the planet will be in a deadly hangover... What began as a promising
trend, vividly pioneered by celebrities, actually ended up being - for lack of more euphemistic terms - a plain faced scam. While the sensation generated by carbon credits in the media may have helped raise awareness in the general public (who are easily tuned out after just a couple of minutes of geeky climate science) carbon offsets have become irrelevant to the issue of climate change. It is time to begin reconsidering carbon footprints as emotional footprints, and not just as mathematical calculations. The rationally adept argue pitiably, "how can we reduce carbon footprint or increase environmental security if we can not measure it?"

What units can we measure the love and devotion of a parent towards their children? If we can not measure it, can we deny its existence? Can such love be the basis for our actions in a time of most unprecedented challenges? We are, (un?)fortunately, living in very interesting times.. times which bring out the real character in (wo)men. If we can not sacrifice, we can not love. It is time to be pure, and to move past atonement - which is a lousy, lamenting love. Of the gifts that we pass on to the next generations, our sons and our daughters, the greatest may be one of love and selfless sacrifice. Like a father puts off that expensive car to save up for his child's education...What gifts do you want to give to your children? What can you give up to make their life happy?