Climate Connections The hidden risks of forest carbon credits
Oct 17, 2025
Rebecca Sanders DeMott, a researcher at the Clean Air Task Force, dives deep into the shortcomings of forest carbon credits. She highlights hidden risks like wildfires and diseases that can negate carbon storage efforts. DeMott argues that existing protocols often overlook these threats, leading to an illusion of effectiveness. She advocates for enhanced scientific tools and monitoring to bolster the system, aiming for genuine carbon protection. This insightful discussion sheds light on the complexities in the fight against climate change.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Forest Credits Aim To Represent Real Carbon
- Many companies buy forest carbon credits to offset their emissions by paying to plant or protect trees.
- Certification protocols aim to equate one credit with one ton of additional carbon stored, but methods vary and matter.
Systemic Flaws Are Fixable With Better Methods
- Certification organizations use protocols to estimate a project's carbon impact, but those protocols contain flaws that affect credit validity.
- Fixable methodological weaknesses mean the overall system can be improved rather than discarded.
Protocols Often Underestimate Reversal And Leakage Risks
- Rebecca Sanders DeMott's analysis found many certification programs underestimate risks like wildfire and disease that can kill trees.
- Programs also often fail to account for leakage where protecting one area increases logging elsewhere.