Buy off your carbon sins

This Tanzanian traveler has a firsthand account of why carbon offsets are not the best idea:

Word around town is that a nearby village got a contract for carbon offsets! They got a bunch of money and devices to plant 10,000 trees. No trees were planted. The money disappeared into the pockets of the corrupt and they told the foreigners that all the trees were planted and showed them trees that were already there.

This is why carbon offsets are like Catholic indulgences. Paying someone else to redeem your sins and clear your conscience is a feel-good manuver. Reducing carbon emissions is what really matters.