“Doing good while making money” is the carefully cultivated theme of the Green Business Plan. The underlying ideology is the venerable recipe of "Guilt, Redemption and Salvation", something that Europe has excelled at as recently as the 17th century witch-hunts. Of course, the redemption for being a witch is no longer politically correct as it emits excessive CO2; we now have modern, efficient and tradeable instruments instead.
Since it was conceived in Germany in 1985, the Green Business Plan has built an empowering scientific framework, provided positive reinforcement here, scare tactics there, touches of messianic salvation from imminent doom and a fair amount of obfuscation on technical matters. It has also built political legitimacy among liberal, social democratic or simply well-intentioned people. The ideological mental construct driving the plan is the Salvation of the Planet from Anthropogenic Global Warming, as adjusted and amended by the cooling realities and falsifying climatologists. The scientists have opined that the Planet is in danger, it is our fault, let us repent by taxing ourselves and, oh by the way, we can offset taxes by buying wind-generators. And, coincidentally, the arbitrary carbon quotas will appreciate in value the more we tax ourselves.
There are various and distinct components of profit which include product sales, after-market service, ancillary add-ons, proprietary services, complete with artificial shortages, redeemable coupons, commissions from market making, political power, etc. These all have been allocated to suitable purveyors who automatically became the network of allies. They include the manufacturers of wind generators, connecting lines, proprietary network management, assorted photovoltaics, and smart meters; the designers and market makers of carbon credits; the electrical utilities acting as intermediaries and revenue collectors. Of course, politicians who find themselves in power and scientists who discover recognition are facilitators, each with their distinct motives.
The carbon market is the element that facilitates the globalization of the endeavor and makes allies of a new breed of financial intermediaries. It is just like the tulip market but instead of tulips, the object of desire is “salvation”. Just like in older European times, this promises to be big business, unless electricity consumers see it as nothing more than a money grab and just simply say “no”.
I found the carbon certificate here, the indulgence here
