SPRiNG | To Offset or Not to Offset? A Critical Look at Carbon Strategy

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Featured experts:

Peter Johnson
President, Carbonzero
- & -
Katie Altoft
VP Advisory Services, Carbonzero

From the intelligent and practical to the ridiculous and paranoid, there are several arguments for and against a company or individual to purchase carbon offsets. A few examples:

- You shouldn’t purchase offsets when you could be reinvesting that money back into energy saving initiatives. Own your carbon footprint!
- Becoming carbon neutral by purchasing offsets demonstrates a commitment to the environment, plain and simple.
- Is a tonne here any different than a tonne there? One must consider the cost comparison of purchasing offsets versus reinvesting internally.
- It’s all a big conspiracy by Al Gore and his left-wing environmentalist thugs.
- For this month’s SPRiNG event, two representatives from one of Canada’s leading carbon offset companies – Carbonzero – will briefly present the arguments for and against offsetting that they encounter on a day-to-day basis. Participants will then be encouraged to weigh in and offer their point of view on the subject and challenge or agree with what was presented.

Across the industry, sustainability professionals appear to stand on either side of this issue. While this dialogue will certainly not resolve that conflict, it should provide participants with a better understanding of the opposing points of view. Come join in a valuable learning exercise on this contentious issue.

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Where:
Network Orange, ING DIRECT Downtown Café
221 Yonge Street (Yonge & Shuter), Toronto, ON, Canada

When:
8:15 AM - 10:00 AM | Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012

RSVP:
You must RSVP to attend. Please visit the SPRiNG Dialogues website (http://www.springdialogues.com/) for more information on how to register, or contact James Watson (information below).

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What is SPRiNG?

SPRiNG’s (Sustainability Professionals Resource & Networking Group) purpose is to provide an informal yet intelligent, respectful and no nonsense venue for professionals to share their knowledge, tools, resources and connections with their peers in sustainability.

Its intended audience are those individuals working toward greater operational sustainability and environmental stewardship within their respective enterprise, be it corporation, not-for-profit or government agency.

Said individuals understand the realities of “doing business” – that they face many obstacles and that they must tailor their sustainability efforts accordingly. They are intelligent, pragmatic and wish to participate in a forum wherein they may share their knowledge, tools, resources and connections with their professional peers.