Reply #101: Did you read the final paragraph of your own link?

[Uncle Joe]

Ultimately, mandatory government policy must be our primary approach to dealing with climate change and the GHG emissions that cause it. However, voluntary GHG offset markets can contribute to emissions mitigation and sustainable development objectives while government-mandated schemes are under development. Voluntary markets can also foster innovation through new technologies and project types still under evaluation by compliance emission markets. While governments focus on developing a consensus on GHG mitigation policies, or more stringent policies, the voluntary offset market, with proper government oversight, has the potential to play a significant role in mitigating future climate change.

Did you didn't read my previous posts describing offsets as a good stop-gap or temporary method?

As to the second link, planting trees is just one aspect of carbon offsets, funding alternative, green, sustainable energy sources is another.

Furthermore, I never said Gore was a "philanthropist," I said he put his money where his mouth is and by his vision, investments and action humanity would benefit.