Highlights: Australia: a scientific study undermines the carbon credits program. To compensate for its greenhouse gas emissions, the country has embarked on a huge forest regeneration program. The problem is that this program had no impact on plant cover, according to the study. Despite the lack of results, theCountry still sold nearly 22.9 million carbon credits to companies between 2013 and 2022. Fictitious credits, with no real environmental value, says the main author of the study and criticizes the total absence of control.

To compensate for its greenhouse gas emissions, the country has embarked on a huge forest regeneration program, allowing it in exchange to obtain these famous carbon credits for which…

Australia: a scientific study undermines the carbon credits program

To compensate for its greenhouse gas emissions, the country has embarked on a huge forest regeneration program, allowing it in exchange to obtain these famous carbon credits for which polluting companies are ready to pay millions to continue their activities. The problem is that this program had no impact on plant cover, according to a scientific study.

A view of Daintree Forest in Queensland, July 30, 2013. © Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0 Bob Linsdell

By: RFI Follow

According to the researchers, who used satellite images to study an area of more than 3 million hectares, forested areas have stagnated and in some cases even reduced. And despite the lack of results, the country still sold nearly 22.9 million carbon credits to companies between 2013 and 2022. Fictitious credits, with no real environmental value, according to Andrew Macintosh, the main author of the The study appeared Tuesday in the scientific journal

Nature Communications, Earth & Environment

“ This is a catastrophe that will tarnish

Australia

's reputation

,” he declared while criticizing the total absence of control and the lack of transparency. For their part, the Australian authorities have denied any irregularity and defended the integrity of this program. Because the country, which is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita, relies on these carbon offsets to reduce its emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2005. This study is therefore a very bad publicity for the carbon credit market, whose environmental benefits are regularly called into question and which is not supervised by any body.

According to the study released Tuesday, carbon offsets have been a central part of climate policy in Australia for two decades. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in Australia stand at 15.3 tonnes, exceeding levels in the United States, according to World Bank figures.

Australia: a scientific study undermines the carbon credits program

Australia: a scientific study undermines the carbon credits program

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