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Summary
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a non-profit organization, develops standards for climate goals and assesses companies based on those guidelines. SBTi issues new warning against using carbon offset credits as a tactic for tackling climate change.
- Many carbon credits are deemed “ineffective” and may actually hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
A major watchdog for corporate sustainability is warning that carbon offset credits are a risky tactic for tackling climate change. The nonprofit organization had faced pressure to soften its stance on carbon credits, which many companies promote as a way to deal with pollution. This week’s findings seem to refute that effort.
Plenty of brands have tried to sell themselves as climate-friendly, but consumers struggle to know whether those companies are actually having a positive impact. That’s where the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) steps in, developing standards for climate goals and assessing companies based on those guidelines.
The SBTi is in the process of updating its standards, which could have a big impact on the thousands of companies that have sought to legitimize their sustainability claims through the organization. It released a report this week synthesizing the evidence it has collected on how useful carbon credits purchased by companies are in fighting climate change. Many of them are outright “ineffective,” the report indicates.
Read the full post at The Verge - Science.
