Carbon removals are no substitute for deep emissions reductions, warns IPCC

Carbon removals will become a vital tool for reducing carbon concentrations in the atmosphere but only massive cuts in emissions will give humanity a fighting chance of keeping global heating to 1.5°C or below, says the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The latest IPCC report, which was released in April, outlines various pathways …

Carbon Market Watch response to UK Climate Change Committee’s consultation: “Carbon Offsets call for evidence”

The UK Climate Change Committee recently issued a public consultation on the subject of “Carbon Offsets call for evidence”, which closed on 28 February 2022. The consultation covered the main risks and opportunities presented by voluntary carbon offsets, the quality and duration of offsets, voluntary offset market regulation and standards, Harnessing Financial Flows, and more.

Carbon Market Watch response to consultation: “Draft Consensus Statement on High Quality Tropical Forest Carbon Credits”

A “Draft Consensus Statement on High Quality Tropical Forest Carbon Credits” was recently developed by eight organisations: Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA), Conservation International, Environmental Defense Fund, Amazonian Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), the Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Resources Institute, and World Wildlife Fund US. Once finalised, the document …

Net-zero illusions: The rise of ‘carbon-neutral’ fossil fuels

Like dry water and hot snow, carbon-neutral fossil fuels are pipe dreams and marketing gimmicks that do nothing to protect the climate, a new Carbon Market Watch investigation reveals. Jonathan Crook investigates. In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new greenwashing trend spreading like wildfire. It consists of oil and gas giants, like Shell, Total, …

Net-zero pipe dreams: Carbon-neutral fossil fuel claims amount to greenwashing

A new Carbon Market Watch report thoroughly investigates the growing number of fossil fuels that are being marketed as “carbon neutral” and concludes that they amount to brazen greenwashing. Published ahead of the COP26, the document challenges governments and industry to halt greenwashing practices and commit to binding fossil fuel phaseouts. Today, Carbon Market Watch …

UN negotiators search (yet again) for common ground on carbon markets

Paris Agreement Article 6 must reduce emissions fairly and effectively For CMW’s overall perspective on Article 6, see here. We have also been publishing a series of technical submissions, responding to a call for input from the UNFCCC: April, May, June. Technical discussions at the UN climate body UNFCCC on the Paris Agreement carbon market …

Recommendations on forests in voluntary carbon markets

An NGO statement on forests in voluntary carbon markets Summary Forest protection and restoration is in urgent need of increased financial support, but cannot be used to offset fossil emissions Financial contributions should be directed at jurisdictional programs addressing deforestation and forest degradation, rather than stand-alone projects, as they provide incentives for improved land use …

From pipeline to pipe dream: why there’s no such thing as shipping carbon-neutral LNG 

This opinion piece was first published on Splash247 on 22 March “Carbon-neutral” liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the new kid on the block when it comes to fake climate credentials. The number of deals across the world is growing at an alarming pace. This greenwashing trend is wrong at many levels. First, let it be …

Five stories from new voluntary offsets data

Scroll down for French and Spanish The recent uptick in interest for voluntary offsets invokes certain concerns, but it also comes with a few benefits. One of these is the push for more transparency. A new public database tracking information about voluntary offsets from the four largest standards was launched by Trove Intelligence. It adds …

Letter to not offset climate inaction with forests

This letter was sent to President of the European Commission von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Simson, Commissioner Sinkevičus , Minister Matos Fernandes, MEP Guteland and other Members of the European Parliament, and Members of Coreper II. Forest restoration must not offset climate inaction in the agriculture, energy, housing, industrial and transport sectors. Yesterday …