Airways utilizing doubtful carbon credit to say climate-neutral operations – watts with that?
Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Surprise – According to The Guardian, airline carbon credits “projects routinely overestimated their emission reductions.”
Carbon offsets used by major airlines due to a flawed system, experts warn
Guardian research has shown that carbon credits generated by forest protection systems are based on a flawed system
Patrick Greenfield @pgreenfielduk
Tue 4 May 2021 22.00 AEST
The market used by major airlines to claim climate-neutral aviation for offsetting CO2 emissions in forest protection is faced with a significant credibility problem. Experts have warned that the system is unsuitable for the purpose.
Carbon offsetting money can provide vital financial support for projects that aim to protect and restore some of the world’s most beautiful threatened ecosystems. Given that nature-based solutions can make a significant contribution to mitigation, which is necessary to stabilize global warming, a functioning funding channel will be important for the progress of climate change, and especially for developing countries.
However, a joint investigation into the compensation schemes of some of the world’s largest airlines, conducted by Guardian and Unearthed, Greenpeace’s investigative arm, found that while many forest projects do valuable conservation work, the credits they have generated by preventing environmental degradation do appear to be based on a flawed and much criticized system, though These loans were used to back up claims about “carbon neutral flying” and net zero commitments.
…
Thales West, a scientist and former project reviewer, conducted a study of programs in the Brazilian Amazon which found that projects routinely overestimated their emissions reductions. He said the methods are “not robust enough” which means “There is room for projects to generate credit that have no impact on the climate”.
…
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/04/carbon-offsets-used-by-major-airlines-based-on-flawed-system-warn-experts
The airlines are supposedly not just cheating on the system. Recently, the New Zealand government has been accused of using dubious bookkeeping to exaggerate its “successes” in reducing emissions.
And of course, Silicon Valley Greens, who loudly dissolve conservatives and back-green issues on the public stage, are regularly accused of partnering with Big Oil and giving energy-intensive Bitcoin a climate pass when it isn’t necessary at all. Google even fired two ethics minds, allegedly for committing the sin of pointing out that Google’s AI push burns a lot of carbon-intensive electricity.
Sometimes I almost feel sorry for the greens. You are surrounded on all sides by alleged cheaters and liars. Imagine actually believing the planet is in danger – and then watch everyone treat you like a fool. Surely only the dumbest greens could be fooled by these transparent supposed deceptions.
Of course, this sympathy for greens quickly disappears when I look at my energy bill.
Like this:
Loading…
Comments are closed.