[s9e21] Carbon Offsets ❲2025-2027❳

: Oliver points to instances where "protected" forests used for offsets burned down in wildfires, releasing the stored carbon back into the atmosphere and rendering the previous "offset" moot. The "Greenwashing" Trap

: Many projects, particularly large-scale renewable energy farms or forests that were never under threat, would have existed anyway. [S9E21] Carbon Offsets

Oliver centers the story on the concept of —the requirement that an offset project must only happen because of the carbon credit funding. : Oliver points to instances where "protected" forests

The story concludes that while offsets could theoretically help, they are currently used as a tool for . They allow companies to avoid the more difficult task of actually cutting their own emissions at the source by simply throwing money at questionable projects. The story concludes that while offsets could theoretically

: An investigation highlighted in the show revealed that up to 90% of rainforest carbon offsets approved by major certifiers like Verra were likely "worthless" or "junk" credits.

The episode begins by highlighting how major corporations—from airlines to oil giants—heavily promote their "carbon-neutral" status. They do this by purchasing , certificates representing the removal or prevention of one metric ton of CO2cap C cap O sub 2 elsewhere in the world to "cancel out" their own emissions. The Core Problem: Additionality