Carbon credits are failing to help with climate change. The idea that emissions can be offset through projects that claim to avoid releases or to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is fatally flawed.

5 comments

1. That was the biggest scam and loophole for the rich to make excuses for their private jets. Glad its getting the negativity it deserves.

2. This was always a con job. Basically it’s 3 Card Monte designed to profit from confusion.

3. Carbon credits are a viable way to direct funding from corporations and people emitting to projects to reduce emissions. All credible projects require proof that the project would not have happened without the sale of credits. Would it be better to have a carbon tax and use that money to fund projects? Probably, but governments are dragging their feet to do so. Let’s not wait around for a perfect solution when we need action now.

4. Greenwashing is everywhere. Direct capture of CO2 is another scam. Technology won’t get us out of this mess. We need to reduce emissions, but of course we won’t.

5. Funding rainforest preservation, indigenous land defense, carbon sequestration projects of all stripes, etc, is a good thing to do. I personally do some of this, it’s good for the world and it helps me feel less guilty about my impact. Carbon credits/offset models fund all kinds of things like this.

   That said, the offset-to-pollute corporate model is the worst form of greenwashing. Reduce emissions at the source, don’t pretend you’re net zero by buying offsets, as though emissions – offsets is equivalent to eliminating emissions.

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