Offsets standards body refutes media’s Redd+ claims

Studies underpinning recent reports are flawed, according to technical review published by Verra

Recent media reports claiming carbon offsets generated by projects using the UN-backed Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd+) mechanism are “largely worthless” include numerous inaccuracies and distortions, according to a technical review published by non-profit carbon offsets standards body Verra. The original analysis undertaken by the UK’s Guardian newspaper, German weekly Die Zeit and non-profit investigative journalism organisation Sourcematerial claims that 94pc of the rainforest offset credits approved by Verra do not represent genuine reductions in emissions. The Guardian investigation analysed the findings of three scientific studies that used a relativ