Carbon Credits Don’t Really Work, But Could They?

In theory, carbon credits are a way for individuals and companies to offset their emissions from carbon-intensive activities, like flying. But do these credits actually work in practice?

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Have you ever purchased a ticket for a flight online and have them ask you if you want to buy a carbon credit? What is that? And can carbon credits really slow down the climate crisis?

It might sound like all hype, but carbon credits are becoming increasingly popular. By 2050, the demand for them could explode by a factor of 100.

Carbon credits are essentially tradable permits or certificates that give you the right to emit 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide or any other equivalent greenhouse gas.

#climatechange #carboncredits #globalwarming #science #seeker

Read More:

Why Carbon Credits For Forest Preservation May Be Worse Than Nothing
https://features.propublica.org/brazil-carbon-offsets/inconvenient-truth-carbon-credits-dont-work-deforestation-redd-acre-cambodia/
"Ultimately, the polluters got a guilt-free pass to keep emitting CO₂, but the forest preservation that was supposed to balance the ledger either never came or didn’t last."

Carbon offsets are going primetime and they’re not ready
https://qz.com/2009746/not-all-carbon-offsets-are-a-scam-but-many-still-are/
"Companies are clamoring for offsets, and more are becoming available. In the first quarter of 2021, 38.6 million metric tons of offsets were purchased globally, according to the analytics firm Ecosystem Marketplace, a record."

Can you really negate your carbon emissions? Carbon offsets, explained.
https://www.vox.com/2020/2/27/20994118/carbon-offset-climate-change-net-zero-neutral-emissions
"Some of the more established offset programs — like the United Nations’ REDD+ program or the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism — have had a poor track record of meaningful reductions in emissions. Disagreements about rules around offsets also continue to derail international climate change negotiations."
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