The Federal Trade Commission held a hearing to discuss carbon offset trading. Carbon offsets are currently sold through a variety of mechanisms with only voluntary certification, prompting the agency to investigate.

The FTC's inquiry into the industry will raise awareness about the lack of consistency in the way offsets are verified and consider their actual environmental benefit of tree planting or other measures.

Once the FTC comes knocking, industries are put on notice that regulations or Congressional hearings could be in the future. This usually is enough to spur industry groups to offer to self regulate, as was the case previously after internet advertising and privacy hearings.

Read more at The New York Times.