Chasing carbon unicorns: the deception of carbon markets and “net zero”
FOEI writes about a new report led by College of the Atlantic professor of global environmental politics Doreen Stabinsky examines the science behind “net zero” claims, how they are used to obscure climate inaction, and the role of various actors in promoting these ineffective schemes.
By Friends of the Earth International
This report, lead by professor Doreen Stabinsky, unpacks the science behind “net zero” claims and how they are used to obscure climate inaction. It explores the new strategies to expand carbon offset markets, linked with new “net zero” demand for offsets. It also explains the roles played by various actors involved in the effort to “make offsetting great again”.
“Net zero” means that fossil fuel companies can continue to explore, drill, extract, and burn fossil fuels, while someone somewhere else sucks carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, magically balancing out emissions. But whose land, whose forests will be used to suck that carbon out? Fossil futures require carbon unicorns.
“Net zero” targets need to be transformed into Real Zero targets, including a complete phase-out of fossil fuels and industrial agriculture, keeping equity in mind, and support for rights for communities whose livelihoods are dependent on those ecosystems.