Sift through the 12 pages of jargon-laced acronymns and see if you can understand the idea for a San Joaquin Valley Carbon Exchange Bank.

Wait. Just so we're on the same page, let's have a little background.

We're talking about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's plan to help reduce greenhouse gases -- mostly carbon dioxide, which is contributing to the swift warmup of our planet.

On Thursday, district staffers will ask the governing board to approve a Climate Change Action Plan, which contains this idea for a carbon exchange bank.

Now, turn to page five on the Web link provided above. This is the description. Here's the translation:

Businesses can voluntarily reduce greenhouse gases -- presumably with advanced technologies that spew out less carbon dioxide. If the businesses do this before certain deadlines, they get credits that are kept in this carbon exchange bank. The air district runs the bank.

The businesses can sell their credits to other businesses that need to reduce greenhouse gases to comply with environmental regulation. The district already does this sort of thing with pollution emissions.

The trick is not to let businesses sell all of the credits. In theory, the air gets cleaner or the greenhouse gases are reduced.

Supporters say this is a good, market-based approach. Critics call it a shell game, saying there's no real reduction of anything.

To form your own opinion, you need to hear the explanation at the meeting -- 9 a.m., district headquarters, 1990 E. Gettysburg Ave. in Fresno.