FRONTLINE: Carbon Watch

WATCH VIDEO » In a series of short interview clips, investigative reporter Mark Schapiro will be explaining some of the complexities of this new carbon economy and what is at stake. Up first: What exactly is the international carbon market? READ MORE »

The Carbon Hunters: Watch Video & Share Your Reaction
FRONTLINE/World journeys to the remote rainforests of Brazil, where several American companies have been on the hunt for an increasingly valuable new commodity -- carbon. But investing in big tracts of forest in order to soak up the carbon they may have to account for in proposed energy legislation is not without its costs. READ MORE »

Carbon Carousel: European Market a Haven for Tax Fraud FRONTLINE/World A tax scandal has been rocking the global carbon markets. Ironically, it is emanating from Copenhagen, the city that six months ago hosted the world's largest climate summit. READ MORE »	The American Power Act: Cap and Trade 2.0 FRONTLINE/World Pollution reduction targets in the American Power Act, drafted by the Senate in May, are nearly identical to those in a companion bill in the House. But how and when industries must meet those targets is vastly more complex. READ MORE »
Carbon Credits for Preserving Forests: How Does It Work? FRONTLINE/World it's a simple premise: preserve the lungs of the world, the remaining forests, by enabling companies, conservation groups, and countries to invest in them as offsets for carbon emissions. In practice, however, it's both complex and controversial. READ MORE »	Timeline: The Road to Climate Change Policy FRONTLINE/World Explore this timeline to learn what is happening at the global, federal, and state levels to regulate carbon emissions. READ MORE »
Map: Dealing with Deforestation FRONTLINE/World This interactive map highlights the dire deforestation problem worldwide and examines a series of projects that attempt to solve it by turning the carbon stored in forests into a commodity. READ MORE »	Interview with Michael G. Morris FRONTLINE/World As the largest supplier of energy in the United States, and its biggest greenhouse gas emitter, how is American Electric Power influencing the carbon economy and energy and climate legislation working through Congress. READ MORE »
Carbon Watch Winner of People's Voice Webby Award FRONTLINE/World We are happy to announce that thanks to all of you "Carbon Watch" has been voted the winner for Best News & Politics Series in the 14th Annual Webby People's Voice Awards. READ MORE »	Miscounting Carbon FRONTLINE/World The suspension of one of the U.N.'s offset "validators" highlights the treacherous nature of measuring the veracity of carbon offsets. READ MORE »

MORE STORIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The New Deal Makers of the Amazon
A growing cadre of carbon developers are scouring the Amazon looking to buy forest credits. But who, exactly, do you pay? READ MORE »

False Profits
Corporations must account for environmental impact says SEC, and prepare to pay says new report. READ MORE »

Conservation projects displace locals
Part 2 of Michael Montgomery's story for Marketplace, this time about the effects on the ground when U.S. companies try to offset their emissions by preserving forests in Southern Brazil. READ MORE »

Calculating the Value of Carbon in Trees
Michael Montgomery and Mark Schapiro report for Marketplace on the effort to slow deforestation by changing the economics of the forest, making a forest preserved more valuable than one being clear-cut. READ MORE »

Cap and Trade and the New Carbon Economy
Listen to Mark Schapiro on Fresh Air talking about the cap and trade system, its development in Europe, and how big financial houses are gearing up to profit. READ MORE »

What Happened to U.S. Climate Policy?
Rolling Stone's Jeff Goodell reports on Obama's rough ride to Copenhagen and those behind "one of the most aggressive lobbying campaigns in history to block progress on global warming." READ MORE »

Marketplace: Clearing the Air on Carbon Credits
Listen to Mark Schapiro's interview on Marketplace, where he talks about his current Harper's Magazine cover story, "Conning the Climate: Inside the Carbon-trading Shell Game." READ MORE »

U.S. and U.K. Tangle Over Airline Emission Limits
Britain is the first European country to start enacting EU measures to cap airline emissions, causing several major U.S. carriers to respond: "See you in court." READ MORE »

GM's Money Trees
Read Mark Schapiro's companion story in the November/December issue of Mother Jones on the difficulties of turning a tree into a carbon offset. READ MORE »

Brazil: The Money Tree
In the new economy created by global warming, forests are becoming a valuable commodity. Promising not to cut them down is one of the most popular ways companies would like to offset emissions. READ MORE »