co2 why not do this?

Not only are carbon credits a sham but carbon dioxide is not even causing global warming. The ice core data from Antarctica shows that increases in CO2 follow after increases in Earths temperature. It is not the cause of global warming but an effect. I think it is also important to remember that CO2 makes up less than half of 1% of the atmosphere. Humans only account for 5% of CO2 output. Can 5% of less have 0.5% of the atmosphere really change the temperature of the entire planet?

That would be very expensive. More expensive than stopping the CO2 at the source.

Here's why man's emissions of CO2 are causing global warming.

There are a great many natural sources and sinks for carbon dioxide. But the present global warming is (mostly) the result of man made CO2 from burning fossil fuels.

There is a natural "carbon cycle" that recycles CO2. But it's a delicate balance and we're messing it up.

Look at this graph.

http://scrippsco2.ucsd.edu/graphics_gallery/mauna_...

The little squiggles are nature doing its' thing. CO2 falls a bit during summer when plants are active, and rises during the winter. The huge increase is us, burning fossil fuels (in addition to the shape of the graph, the increase numerically matches the increase in fossil fuel use; an unlikely coincidence). The natural carbon cycle buried carbon in fossil fuels over a very long time, little bit by little bit. We dig them up and burn them, real fast. That's a problem.

Man is upsetting the balance of nature. We need to fix that.

The reason CO2 lags temperature in historic warmings not caused by man is simple. CO2 works two ways. It can cause warming, by the greenhouse effect. And it is released from ocean waters as they get warmer.

First, Al Gore does not BUY carbon credits, they are given to him by his company. But, your right, they do nothing to reduce CO2 emmissions and in fact, may actually encourage increased fossil fuel use.

Taking CO2 out of the air would be very costly because of its low concentration - 380 ppmv. This means that in order to take out one ton of CO2, you would need to process 1722 tons of air. Your idea may, however, have merit in the realm of carbon capture and sequestration from fossil fuels. Of course, I'm not too clear on where we could store blocks of dry ice.

You're right of course. Carbon credits is political nonsense. At best it's a symbolic gesture, at worst it's a way for rich people to oppress the poor.

Beware of the global warming hype. Most of it is scientifically incorrect and politically motivated.