[Raptor235]

Businesses covered under European emissions cap-and-trade schemes are netting billions from the regulations, according to a new economic analysis.  They do this by treating emissions permits as assets and passing along the cost of using them up to consumers, without actually reducing emissions.  For example, British energy firms took in an extra US$1.5 billion from 2005-07 by passing along the “value” of used-up credits.  This could change if credits were auctioned on the open market, rather than being allocated to industries for free.  The cost would still be passed to consumers, but the money would go to the government that issued the credits, rather than to the business that was awarded them.  Alternatively, cutting back on the number of credits issued would force industries to actually implement emission cuts.\n
Source: Jim Giles, Airlines set to net billions under greenhouse gas plan.  News @ Nature.com, January 18. Photo: Philippe Noret - AirTeamimages.

You can find the entire article here http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/black-g...for-businesses

[solarhomes]

Whenever and wherever there are good intentions such as carbon trading, there's always someone out there gaming the system. There is definitely money to be made by going green and so this attracts opportunists who are only in it for themselves.