When people pay for carbon offsets it is because they are emitting carbon. They are throwing more logs into the burning house. But it's 'ok' because they are paying for offsets.

In the grand scheme I'd rather they did pay for offsets than didn't - and there are some fine schemes that are being financed this way.

However here is also a tendency for the money oriented to see an opportunity for profit, which can result in different kinds of destruction and distortion.

I am not convinced we can harness the desire for profit to solve the planet's environmental problems - it just becomes another game for a few players to try and accumulate all the pieces.

I've strayed from the metaphor...and I've complained without offering alternatives. Excuse me!