[s9e21] Carbon Offsets Apr 2026

Oliver centers the story on the concept of —the requirement that an offset project must only happen because of the carbon credit funding.

: Many projects, particularly large-scale renewable energy farms or forests that were never under threat, would have existed anyway. [S9E21] Carbon Offsets

The episode begins by highlighting how major corporations—from airlines to oil giants—heavily promote their "carbon-neutral" status. They do this by purchasing , certificates representing the removal or prevention of one metric ton of CO2cap C cap O sub 2 elsewhere in the world to "cancel out" their own emissions. The Core Problem: Additionality Oliver centers the story on the concept of

: An investigation highlighted in the show revealed that up to 90% of rainforest carbon offsets approved by major certifiers like Verra were likely "worthless" or "junk" credits. They do this by purchasing , certificates representing