How Certified Rainforest Carbon Offsets are Mostly “Worthless”
- Media Manager
- Jan 8, 2024
- 1 min read
One Green Planet
Written By: Nicholas Vincent
Published: January 8th, 2024
In the quest to combat climate change, rainforest carbon credits have emerged as a popular tool. These credits are designed to preserve vital rainforests, thereby capturing carbon dioxide and mitigating global emissions. However, a startling report by UC Berkeley challenges the effectiveness of these schemes, underscoring the urgent need for more effective rainforest conservation strategies.
Background on Rainforest Carbon Credits
Carbon offsetting is a key strategy in the fight against Climate change. It allows businesses and individuals to compensate for their carbon emissions by investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere, such as protecting rainforests. Verra, a leading standard operator in carbon certification, champions its Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) projects. These initiatives are intended to turn carbon stored in forests into a quantifiable economic value, encouraging the preservation of forests. However, despite their growing popularity among corporations seeking to bolster their green credentials, questions linger about the actual impact of these rainforest carbon credits.
