checkbook environmentalist
- checkbook environmentalist
n.
A person or company that contributes to the protection of the environment solely by donating money to environmental causes or by purchasing carbon offsets. Also: chequebook environmentalist.
—checkbook environmentalism n.
Example Citations:
A growing number of organizations, corporations, cities, and individuals are seeking to protect the climate—or at least claim bragging rights for protecting the climate. Rather than take the arduous step of significantly cutting their own emissions of carbon dioxide, many in the ranks of the environmentally concerned are paying to have someone else curtail air pollution or develop "renewable" energy sources. Carbon offsets, as the most common variety of these deals is known, have become one of the most widely promoted products marketed to checkbook environmentalists.
—Ben Elfin, "Another Inconvenient Truth," Business Week, March 26, 2007
But, for those who have released a supernumerary cloud of CO2 (through flying, for example), and who want to pay, is there another solution? One strategy is to make a donation to a non-profit environmental organisation or to a charity that works in regions affected by climate change (pick anywhere in the developing world). This, of course, won't stop one from being labelled a "chequebook environmentalist", but at least there is more transparency about the money's destination.
—Jane Powers, "Planet matters," The Irish Times, April 7, 2007
Earliest Citation:
Fascinating New York Times piece regarding a proposed wind farm for Nantucket Sound. Suddenly, all the environmentally friendly locals are going ballistic over the prospects of seeing an 'industrial energy complex' in their backyard. Walter Cronkite decries it, as do many other local checkbook environmentalists. Greenpeace says 'Jim Gordon (the developer) is the real thing, there aren't many entrepreneurs out there willing to take risks to clean up the environment.' Who's right?
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New words.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
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carbon offset — n. A donation or other act that aims to remove a certain amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to compensate for the same amount of carbon dioxide that someone or something has added to the atmosphere. carbon offsetter n. carbon offsetting … New words
climate porn — n. Extreme or alarmist language or images used to describe the current or future effects of man made climate change. Also: climate pornography. Example Citations: Recently, a left leaning think tank in Great Britain came up with a good way to… … New words
conspicuous conservation — n. Using technology to live more frugally and to conserve resources. conspicuous conservationism n. conspicuous conservationist n. Example Citations: Well designed and expensive state of the art machinery, from thermodynamically efficient… … New words
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eco-porn — n. A corporate advertisement that extols the company s environmental record or policies. Also: eco pornography. Example Citations: We re all used to eco porn by now; those beautiful television ads featuring some natural jewel, during which an… … New words
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