[s9e21] Carbon Offsets • High Speed

: 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.

Oliver centers the story on the concept of —the requirement that an offset project must only happen because of the carbon credit funding. [S9E21] Carbon Offsets

: Credits are often sold for protecting forests that weren't actually in danger of being cut down. Oliver mocks this as "paying someone not to do something they weren't going to do anyway." : An investigation highlighted in the show revealed

: If a project doesn't provide additional benefits, the company buying the credit is technically still polluting without actually helping the environment, leading to a net increase in global emissions. Case Studies in "Phantom Credits" Oliver mocks this as "paying someone not to

The episode details several high-profile examples of carbon offset failures:

Oliver's final take is a warning: the current system is essentially a "get out of jail free card" that prioritizes corporate PR over actual climate action. org/">Verra have responded to these criticisms?