Carbon Credits have always felt a bit like a riddle to me. If you’ve felt the same way, you’re not alone. But what do Carbon Credits have to do with being an enlightened omnivore? Hang in there! This could actually be the missing piece of the ecosystem-wide puzzle to solve the climate change problem.
If you’ve ever wondered how something as “corporate” as carbon credits could impact your food choices, or the health of our planet, this episode is for you. Spoiler: It’s not as complicated as it seems, and it’s a lot more exciting!
Some of you might cringe when I offer that—back in the day—I was pretty convinced the free market could solve just about anything, including climate change. I do recognize the importance of government spending for things like public education, the military, and healthcare. But as a serial entrepreneur, and a recovering small business owner, I also appreciate that the market plays a huge role in shaping our everyday decisions. Private sector economics will be a huge factor, and maybe even the greatest barrier to tackling environmental issues in the coming decades.
This month, I speak with Nathan Truitt, Executive Vice President of the American Forest Foundation to learn more about the carbon credit market, and to help translate how this economic tool might help us get closer to a carbon neutral planet.
I also got to speak with Nate about the concept of pragmatic or practical environmentalism. If we build solutions to climate change that include the needs and values of all stakeholders—even the folks we don't like or disagree with—we might get further down the road with real-world solutions that provide all of us what we need, rather than a few of us what we want.
That’s my two cents. Enjoy!
PODCAST: Decoding Carbon Credits; Can the Market Save the Planet?