Junk Offsets Are Feeding Wave of Greenwashing, Study Shows
- Only 6% of offsets are linked to additional carbon reductions
- Eni, BA, Nestle and TotalEnergies exposed to credits in study
The research found that only 5.4 million — or 6% — of a potential 89 million credits were linked to additional carbon reductions through preserved forests.
Photographer: Jair F. Coll/BloombergCorporations relying on carbon credits to support their green claims now face “robust and credible” proof that the vast majority of such securities aren’t fit for purpose, according to a study published in the journal Science.
The research, which analyzed 18 carbon-offset projects across Peru, Colombia, Cambodia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, found that only 5.4 million — or 6% — of a potential 89 million credits were linked to additional carbon reductions through preserved forests. More than 60 million carbon credits originated from projects that barely reduced deforestation.