Thou shall not sell carbon emission indulgences

Sir you write: “Polluters can purchase “carbon credits” to mitigate the effects of their activities. This allows them to continue with their existing business while claiming that they are doing their bit to combat climate change” “The merits of a global carbon offset market” December 7.

For more than a decade I have argued that “carbon credits” are like the indulgences sold by the Catholic Church for the forgiveness of sins, and which Martin Luther protested. And carbon credits are currently much promoted by Germany.

In his 2015 Encyclical Letter LAUDATO SI’ Pope Francis wrote: "171. The strategy of buying and selling “carbon credits” can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide. This system seems to provide a quick and easy solution under the guise of a certain commitment to the environment, but in no way does it allow for the radical change which present circumstances require. Rather, it may simply become a ploy which permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors."

So, in a strange twist of history, it seems the Catholic Church is now telling the Lutheran Church “Thou shall not sell carbon emission indulgences”