The Critiques and Controversies around NGO Involvement in Carbon Offsetting
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a significant role in shaping the discourse and policy around carbon offsetting. While some argue that NGOs can contribute positively by advocating for improvements and promoting ethical practices, others have raised concerns about their involvement in this controversial space.
One of the key roles NGOs have taken on is exposing issues and advocating for improvements in carbon offsetting frameworks and practices. Organizations like Greenpeace have been vocal in their criticism of offsetting schemes, arguing that they often fail to deliver the promised emissions reductions and can serve as a distraction from the real solutions to climate change. By conducting independent research and investigations, NGOs have helped to shed light on the shortcomings of many offset projects and have pushed for greater accountability and transparency in the industry.
NGOs have also sought to promote ethical and transparent implementation of carbon offsetting. They have called for robust quality standards, third-party verification, and safeguards to ensure that offset projects do not infringe upon the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. For example, the Human Rights Watch report on the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project in Cambodia highlighted the need for free, prior, and informed consent in the implementation of offsetting initiatives.
Beyond advocating for improvements to specific offsetting practices, many NGOs have argued for broader systemic changes to address the underlying causes of climate change. They have emphasized that carbon offsets should not be seen as a substitute for the massive reductions in fossil fuel emissions that are needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Instead, they have called for a focus on transitioning to renewable energy, protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, and implementing effective carbon pricing mechanisms.
However, the involvement of NGOs in carbon offsetting has not been without controversy. Some have taken a hardline stance in opposition to voluntary carbon markets, arguing that they are fundamentally flawed and serve primarily as a “get out of jail free card” for polluting companies. At the COP26 climate conference, 170 NGOs signed a statement opposing carbon markets, and organizations like Friends of the Earth have labeled them a “dangerous con.”
This advocacy against carbon markets has been driven by a deep skepticism about the ability of offsetting to deliver genuine emissions reductions. Investigations by NGOs have found that many offset projects have overstated their impact, with some studies suggesting that over 70% of projects have caused harm to local communities and more than 40% have failed to reduce emissions as claimed. Given these findings, many NGOs have called for alternative approaches, such as stronger regulations and standards, rather than relying on voluntary carbon markets.
The critiques and controversies surrounding NGO involvement in carbon offsetting highlight the complex and contested nature of this policy space. While NGOs have undoubtedly played an important role in exposing issues and pushing for improvements, the fundamental disagreements about the effectiveness and desirability of offsetting as a climate solution remain unresolved. As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce emissions, the debate over the proper role of carbon offsets, and the involvement of NGOs in shaping their governance, is likely to continue.
The Potential Positive Impacts of NGO Involvement in Carbon Offsetting
Despite the critiques and controversies surrounding carbon offsetting, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have the potential to play a constructive role in shaping the governance and implementation of these schemes. By leveraging their expertise, advocacy, and oversight capabilities, NGOs can contribute to improving the integrity and transparency of the global voluntary carbon market.
One key area where NGOs can make a difference is in ensuring proper verification and accountability of carbon offset claims. Organizations like Verra, a non-profit that provides certification standards for carbon offset projects, play a crucial role in establishing and enforcing rigorous methodologies for quantifying emissions reductions. By working with such organizations and pushing for continuous improvement of verification processes, NGOs can help to build trust and credibility in the voluntary carbon market.
NGOs can also contribute by highlighting the potential benefits of well-designed offset projects for local and underserved communities. The Nature Conservancy points to examples of carbon offset programs that have delivered tangible improvements in healthcare, agricultural training, and sustainable livelihoods for communities in the Global South. By showcasing these success stories and advocating for the inclusion of strong social and environmental safeguards, NGOs can help to ensure that carbon offsetting delivers co-benefits beyond emissions reductions.
In the realm of nature-based solutions, NGOs can play a vital role in creating positive incentives to protect and restore forests. Deforestation and land use change are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon offset projects that prioritize forest conservation and reforestation can help to tackle this challenge. NGOs can work with local communities, governments, and private sector actors to design and implement offset projects that generate sustainable income streams for forest protection, thereby upending conventional economic incentives that often drive deforestation.
Finally, NGOs can help to position carbon offsetting as a complementary tool in the broader portfolio of climate solutions. While emphasizing that offsets are not a substitute for the rapid decarbonization of the global economy, NGOs can advocate for the responsible use of offsetting as part of a comprehensive approach to achieving net-zero emissions. By engaging with the private sector and policymakers to promote offsetting alongside ambitious emissions reduction targets, renewable energy deployment, and other climate actions, NGOs can contribute to the development of a more robust and effective global response to the climate crisis.
The involvement of NGOs in carbon offsetting is not without its challenges and limitations, as discussed in the previous section. However, by focusing on improving transparency, accountability, and the delivery of tangible benefits for people and the planet, NGOs have the potential to play a constructive role in shaping the future of this controversial but potentially important tool in the fight against climate change.
The Challenges and Limitations of NGO Influence on Carbon Offsetting Governance
While non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have the potential to positively influence the governance and implementation of carbon offsetting schemes, they also face significant challenges and limitations in their efforts to shape this complex and often controversial policy space.
One major challenge is the lack of quality standards and third-party verification in many offset programs. As noted in a Reddit discussion, there is often no internationally accepted standard or robust verification process to ensure the quality and integrity of carbon offsets. This lack of standardization and oversight can make it difficult for NGOs to effectively advocate for improvements and hold offset providers accountable.
Another concern is the questionable additionality and permanence of emissions reductions claimed by some offset projects. Critics argue that many offsets are based on protecting forests that were already privately owned and not under threat of deforestation, calling into question whether the claimed emissions reductions are truly additional. The permanence of these reductions is also uncertain, as there is a risk that carbon stored in trees or soils could be released back into the atmosphere due to natural disturbances or changes in land management.
NGOs must also grapple with the potential for greenwashing and the passing of costs to consumers without real emissions reductions. Some companies may use carbon offsets as a way to appear more environmentally friendly without making meaningful changes to their own operations, a practice known as greenwashing. There are also concerns that the costs of offsets may be passed on to consumers without clear evidence that the claimed emissions reductions are actually being achieved.
The shaky evidence of the actual emissions reduction impacts of many offset projects is another challenge that NGOs must confront. Studies have found that a significant proportion of offset projects have overstated their emissions reductions, often due to issues like unrealistic assumptions about project baselines, the use of accounting tricks, or the failure to account for factors like tree mortality or leakage of emissions to other areas.
The largely unregulated or poorly regulated nature of the voluntary carbon market also creates challenges for NGOs seeking to promote best practices and accountability. The lack of strong regulatory oversight can allow for the proliferation of scams, unrealistic claims, and projects that fail to deliver the promised emissions reductions or co-benefits. This can undermine the credibility of the entire offsetting industry and make it harder for NGOs to advocate for the responsible use of offsets as part of a broader climate strategy.
Finally, NGOs must be attentive to the potential for negative impacts on indigenous rights and local communities in the implementation of carbon offset projects. The case of the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project in Cambodia highlights the risks of forced evictions, loss of access to traditional lands and resources, and the criminalization of customary practices in the name of forest protection for carbon offsetting. NGOs have a responsibility to advocate for the rights and interests of affected communities and to ensure that offset projects are designed and implemented with their free, prior, and informed consent.
Navigating these challenges and limitations will require sustained effort, collaboration, and critical reflection on the part of NGOs involved in shaping carbon offsetting governance. While the road ahead is not easy, the potential for NGOs to contribute to the development of a more transparent, accountable, and equitable carbon offsetting system should not be discounted.
