Christian Science Monitor gets it right on carbon trading -- will politicians and opinion leaders in the U.S. listen?

The Christian Science Monitor has a six-part investigative report on carbon cap-and-trade. The results aren't particularly surprising; the first article in the series reports:

An investigation by The Christian Science Monitor and the New England Center for Investigative Reporting has found that individuals and businesses who are feeding a $700 million global market in [carbon] offsets are often buying vague promises instead of the reductions in greenhouse gases they expect.

But the high potential for fraud, waste, and abuse--not to mention the likelihood that cap-and-trade schemes won't affect climate one whit--probably don't matter to the politicians in Washington, DC. What may matter is public opinion.

This is a must-read series, folks -- and then must forward to members of Congress, the Obama administration, environment reporters, and anyone else you can think of who still might be enamored of this carbon-trading notion.

Here are links to each article in the series -- you even gotta love the headlines!

• Buying carbon offsets may ease eco-guilt but not global warming

• Carbon offsets: Using the green cloak of 'certification' to sell

• Carbon offsets: How a Vatican forest failed to reduce global warming

• Is Dave Matthews' carbon offsets provider really carbon neutral?

• Carbon offsets: Green project offends Indian farmers who lose land ...

• Carbon offsets: Australia leads the pursuit of 'greenwashing'

• The Monitor's View: Seeking carbon offsets for global warming? Buye...