Alchemy - the theory that works: Carbon units

[tracer.smart]

Well they have finally done it. After years of alchemists failing to turn various base substances into Gold or precious stones our esteemed leadership have finally created a method of creating wealth from thin air.

I refer of course to Carbon Units.

But is it really that easy? Carbon units are exchanging for $7-12 at present on energy exchanges.

According to www.carbontrust.co.uk, UK households put out 10 tonnes of CO2 per year per household, so does that automatically give me $120 to trade - no, of course not - this is for corporations not for individuals.

(1 carbon unit = 1 tonne of CO2, 1 carbon unit = kWh x 43 x 0.001, Where 43 = UK emission factor, And 0.001 = leveling factor)

So, to pick your brains if I may:

(1) What are the rules that grant companies an amount of carbon units to trade?
(2) Does simply reducing energy consumption result in allocation of carbon units?
(3) If I can't trade on my own house and 3l engine, should I buy land now in readiness to respond with tree planing to companies investments in 'offsetting'?

Ta..

[houlbt]

Pushed for time right now but to get you started...

Regulatory Bodies
http://www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/climatechange/...
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.ht...
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/items/...

The principle traded exchange
http://www.ecxeurope.com/default_flash.asp

A good soure on news
http://www.pointcarbon.com/Home/News/All%20news/EU...

[Burba]

i thought the organisation already set up to trade carbon units was regulated by a government led organisation and as such, wouldn't offer room for a private-interest organisation to offer a trading service?
well, that was what i was led to believe anyway

[houlbt]

Burba said:

i thought the organisation already set up to trade carbon units was regulated by a government led organisation and as such, wouldn't offer room for a private-interest organisation to offer a trading service?
well, that was what i was led to believe anyway

Sorry you lost me on that

[russ_a]

I think most trading schemes will trade with companies from the third world were labour and land is much cheaper

[Burba]

houlbt said:

Burba said:

i thought the organisation already set up to trade carbon units was regulated by a government led organisation and as such, wouldn't offer room for a private-interest organisation to offer a trading service?
well, that was what i was led to believe anyway

Sorry you lost me on that

sorry, got a little convoluted (sp?) - basically, i don't think there is any scope for a private entity to trade carbon units in the market....