Climate & Environment
John Gibbons: Empty carbon offsetting promises mean it’s business as usual for the polluters
Far from leading to tangible reductions in overall carbon pollution globally, for many, the practice increasingly looks like a PR initiative which does little to protect the planet
When is a measure that looks like it will protect the environment not actually a measure that will protect the environment? Sometimes, it’s when it involves carbon offsetting.
Put simply, a carbon offset is the promise of the removal or neutralising of a given amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). This is particularly appealing for sectors such as aviation, where there are few realistic alternatives to burning fossil fuels.
It could involve a company funding tree ...