A coalition of nonprofits criticises the use of carbon credits, while initiatives and challenges around reducing carbon emissions are underway globally, impacting climate goals.
Global Criticism of Carbon Credits and Updates on Climate Initiatives
A coalition of over 80 nonprofits, including ClientEarth, ShareAction, Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace, has issued a new warning against the use of carbon credits. These groups argue that carbon offsets are jeopardizing actual net-zero goals by allowing companies and governments to avoid making immediate emissions reductions. The nonprofits are advocating for regulatory frameworks to exclude offsetting, emphasizing that it fails to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and perpetuates emissions from high-polluting activities.
This stance was prompted by a statement from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in April, suggesting that carbon credits could be used to offset supply chain emissions. Critics, however, highlight the difficulty in verifying the true climate impact of these credits, despite recent efforts from the U.S. government to boost the market’s credibility and endorsements from other environmental groups like Conservation International and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Meanwhile, Redcar and Cleveland Council in the UK face challenges reducing their carbon emissions, having exhausted easier options. A report by Councillor Carrie Richardson indicates a need for more radical and costly measures to meet 2030 net-zero targets, despite significant annual reductions in recent years. Efforts such as using ultra-low emission vehicles and exploring hydrogen fuel are underway.
Additionally, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) announced at their Annual Presidents’ Meeting in New Zealand their commitment to offsetting 420 tonnes of carbon emissions linked to travel, partnering with Canada’s BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative.
Lastly, the frozen food industry is seeing a shift with the Move to -15°C initiative, aiming to reduce the standard frozen food storage temperature from -18°C to -15°C. This change, backed by companies like Nomad Foods, promises to cut energy consumption without compromising food safety or quality. The initiative has garnered support from various global players in the food and logistics sectors, emphasizing collaboration to achieve significant reductions in supply chain emissions.
