The Great Forest-Offset Fandango of New Zealand

“Globally, projects selling carbon offsets for the climate benefit of saving existing forests are under scrutiny. Some carbon offsets promise to reduce deforestation. There’s growing evidence these claims may not always stack up”, writes Olivia Wannan of the Forever Project in her article ‘Why the heat is on carbon offsets claiming to protect forest’.

There are questions over “zero carbon” Garage Project beer and Otis Oat Milk where evidence of their ‘environmental’ benevolence is being hauled under the spotlight.

“When ticking an airline's carbon offset box, you’re probably picturing your dollars creating green action: someone planting a seedling that will grow into a tree. But fairly often, you’ll be paying someone not to take action: to not chop down or burn existing trees” Wannan continues.

“People selling these offsets say forests lock away vast amounts of greenhouse gas that the world cannot afford to release. Rather than landowners making money by harvesting wood or clearing the land for farming, they can get paid to keep the trees, by selling offsets.

Opponents say the concept opens a can of worms. It only works if the forest is at risk of being chopped or burned – and it’s tough, if not impossible, to calculate the precise amount at risk. If it turns out the trees were never seriously at risk, the offset projects could become a sort of protection racket: with people threatening forest to secure cash. Meanwhile, the oil companies and airlines that buy credits can claim they’re taking climate action, while continuing to contribute planet-heating pollution”.

Read Olivia Wannan’s full article here