Title: Offsetting carbon emissions: a major challenge in the fight against deforestation, but mixed results
Introduction:
For several years, the United Nations has supported carbon emissions offset projects as part of the REDD+ program (Reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation). However, a recent study published in the journal Science calls into question the effectiveness of this process in the fight against deforestation.
Mixed results of carbon offsetting:
The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Cambridge, examined 18 REDD+ projects in different countries, such as Peru, Colombia, Cambodia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of the 89 million carbon credits generated by these projects in 2020, only 6% (or around 5.4 million) actually made it possible to reduce carbon emissions through the preservation of forests. The other credits did not have a significant impact on deforestation.
Flaws in the compensation system:
The study highlights several factors that contributed to these mixed results. First, predicting rates of deforestation and afforestation over a long period of time is difficult and can lead to inaccurate estimates. Additionally, there is a lack of regulation in the carbon credit industry, which creates loopholes and allows some bad faith actors to exploit the offset system.
A call for better regulation:
Faced with these results, researchers are calling for better regulation of the carbon credit industry. It is necessary to close loopholes that allow questionable practices and increase market transparency. These measures are essential to ensure that carbon offsetting actually contributes to the fight against deforestation.
Conclusion:
Offsetting carbon emissions through carbon credits is a potentially powerful tool to combat deforestation. However, the study highlights shortcomings in the current system, which compromise its effectiveness. Stricter regulations and greater transparency are needed to ensure that carbon offsetting actually contributes to the preservation of forests. This will require collaboration between governments, businesses and international organizations to ensure a real positive impact on the environment.