Is it only me that does not get this whole offsetting plan and thinks it’s just one big con?

I have read the websites and seen the debates and believe me, green issues are as important to me as the next man but the whole off setting thing leaves me cold.

Lets give an example:

I build a powerstation and burn loads of coal to power my factory. This of course increases my carbon footprint.

But then pay an organisation some cash who in turn pay for some trees to be planted in Outer Mongolia and off set that against my carbon footprint.

As a result because I have done this, my carbon footprint is neutral so I am viewed as a good corporate citizen.

But what about all that smoke bellowing out of my power station?

Off setting does not get away from the fact that I am still polluting the world around me yet because I have given somebody some cash, it makes it all OK.

Did I miss something?

Surely we need to be looking at how we can reduce out carbon emmissions not just pasing the buck?

carbon offsetting