Penn & Teller: Bullshit!

Teller's e-mail: Being Green

Q: We’ve done several episodes of Bullshit about environmental issues.  In your opinion, where do carbon offsets rank on a bullshit scale (compared to recycling, endangered species and nuclear power)?

TELLER: There is evidence for global warming, though there's considerable reason to believe this is simply part of a natural cycle.  There is some evidence that humans may contribute at least a bit to the change (though many sources suggest that human pollution is insignificant compared with forest fires, volcanos, etc.). 

But, carbon credits?  The lowest kind of bullshit.  So a person wants to drive a Humvee but feels guilty.  What to do?  Provide capital (with no expectation of payback) to a company that purports to be developing "green" technology?  That's just nuts -- unless you're the entrepreneur getting your startup money as a gift from guilty, rich assholes.

A moment with... Sid Embree

Sid Embree of AtmosClear explains how carbon offsets work.  This is good background info for the Being Green episode.  Pay attention - there will be a test later!

 

Being Green

Stressed out about your contribution to the end of the world?  Now you can buy into all the Global Warming hysteria, literally.  Just break out your checkbook and poof!...your eco-anxiety goes away like that.  All you have to do is buy carbon credits to offset your carbon contribution and you’ll save the world!  Really!

And wow, do people want to relieve their guilt.  We sent a representative from our fake Carbon Credits Coalition to the streets to see if she can con people out of some coin.

We’ll also tell you which ex-Vice President has received notices from the Environmental Protection Agency because of his mine’s pollution.  With all his grandstanding, we think he should be feeling pretty guilty himself.  Who is he?  We’ll give you a hint; it’s not George Mifflin Dallas.

Penn & Teller on the Being Green episode