Hackers steal 2 million tonnes of EU carbon credits

Yahoo ^ | 1/20/11 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

BRUSSELS (AFP) – Hackers stole two million tonnes of polluting rights in a five-day raid this week on the European Union's carbon emissions trading system, an EU source said on Thursday.

The volume of carbon credits stolen in online action, which a European Commission spokeswoman was "possibly concerted", represents just a fraction of global industrial greenhouse gas permits, but is potentially worth many millions of euros.

The scale of the theft, which involved five unnamed EU states, was revealed a day after Brussels shut all 27 national trading registries for a week, citing inadequate online protection.

Credits stolen just from the Czech Republic were worth seven million euros.

Fourteen of the 27 European Union states need to boost their online security to minimum standards, the spokeswoman said.

The EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is the largest multinational, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world, but has repeatedly suffered security breaches.

[Brett66]

What could go wrong with a cap n tax scheme like this? Surely we’ll be able to control the climate if we trade these imaginary units and various criminal organizations wouldn’t ever try to take advantage while we smugly save the planet would they?

[IMR 4350]

I keep my carbon credits hidden in a wood stove. Thieves would never think to look there, especially when there is a fire in it.

[UCANSEE2]

"The EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is the largest multinational, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme Ponzi Scheme in the world, but has repeatedly suffered security breaches.

[rawhide]

Somebody stole my secret wishes and lofty ideals!

Really? Your 2 cents worth? ;^)

[Domalais]

Wait... someone stole something that doesn't really exist or mean anything in the first place. Not only that, but they stole it online in a market where people buy and sell things that don't exist. And they've potentially made millions of dollars?

My head hurts.

[GenXteacher]

Later, near an open car trunk:
“Yo, I got some fresh carbon credits right here. What? Naw, man, this is better than magic beans! So good the price is two Benjamins instead of one...aight.....see ya....sucka.”

Not much difference between the original seller and the fence, come to think of it.

[Liberty Valance]

ROFLOMAO!

[antiRepublicrat]

Is this a joke? Exactly where do you find a fence for carbon credits? How do you launder carbon credits?

[Oztrich Boy]

Two million tonnes? However did they carry them?

[texmexis best]

From what I have read the Mob controls the EU trading in Carbon Credits. So these hackers have just stolen from the Mafia.

Not a good idea. Some bodies will be found.

[Liberty Valance]

"We thought that we had the answers, it was the questions we had wrong."

--Bono

[FreeAtlanta]

Stealing from thieves. No honor among thieves.

[ronnie raygun]

Carbon credits......toilet paper

[Disambiguator]

...but is potentially worth many millions of euros.

This article fails to mention a singularly important issue, which is: how many quatloos is that, given the current exchange rate?

/s

[Onelifetogive]

Now these stupid things are going to start showing up in pawn shops all over Europe...

[The Comedian]

Stealing carbon credits.

Doesn't that make about as much sense as stealing unicorn licenses?

I mean, what are you going to do with them, sell them to elves?

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Soothesayer]

My poo has some carbon in it. I’d like to sell it to the EU. I offer competitive discount prices on all carbon credits!

[jackibutterfly]

ICKKKKKK!!

[Gabrial]

My local pawn shop had a whole stack of them. Right between the power tools and the guitars. /s

[La Lydia]

There is a guy in an overcoat selling them on the street in downtown DC. Come to think of it, he looks a lot like Al Gore.