Page 70 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 23
P. 70
The Environment
ecosystems and threaten coastal and Indigenous Peoples are
communities.” disproportionately impacted Total’s offsetting project in the
by these false solutions, fossil Republic of Congo has taken
Anuradha Mittal, Executive fuel industry extraction and the land from farmers and threatens
Director of the Oakland increasing impacts of climate their livelihoods.
Institute: “At COP28, world change. More carbon markets,
leaders and climate negotiators offsets and removals must not Communities living within the
need to recognize once and for be considered as solutions. Alto Mayo REDD+ project in
all that carbon markets are a Over 20 years of history with Peru were violently evicted
failed source of climate finance. offsets have resulted in the from their homes in a series of
They are volatile and unstable, rights of Indigenous Peoples clearances by park authorities.
marked by fraud, incapable being violated, increased land
of reducing emissions, and grabbing, and disproportionate The African Forestry Impact
actually harm communities. We impacts on Indigenous Platform recently acquired
cannot afford to waste any more environmental defenders. The Green Resources, a Norwegian
time on this false solution. The false solutions will become a plantation forestry and carbon
world urgently needs alternative crime against humanity and credit company with a history
ways to drive climate action, Mother Earth.” of land grabbing, human rights
because carbon markets have violations, and environmental
failed.” –ends– destruction across Uganda,
Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Jose Bravo of Just Transition NOTES
Alliance said: “Pollution
trading and offset schemes have Some examples of harm to local Some examples of fraud and
only served to line the coffers communities from carbon offset trade in phantom credits:
of the world’s largest polluting projects:
corporations. To regain any Described as a “Cash-for-
credibility following this COP Nearly half of the offsets Carbon Hustle” by the New
28 facade, the UNFCCC purchased by Chevron Yorker, South Pole’s Kariba
needs to move away from are linked to claims or REDD project in Zimbabwe
such polluter subsidies and allegations of inflicting harm raised at least $100 million in
start following the leadership on communities and spurring carbon credits before collapsing
of frontline workers and degradation of ecosystems, in scandal in October 2023.
communities who are forging particularly in the Global
just transition pathways based South or on the climate crisis A 2023 study found that the
on real climate solutions.” frontlines. majority of the world’s leading
carbon offset projects could be
Tom Goldtooth, Executive A global map of carbon offset categorized as “likely junk”,
Director of the Indigenous projects from the past five while another, looking at the
Environmental Network, years shows 72% causing world’s leading carbon offset
said: “A global phase out harm to Indigenous or local certifier, found that “most
of fossil fuels at source communities. credits probably don’t represent
should be priority at this UN any climate benefit.”
conference on climate, not A refuse-derived fuel project in
more carbon markets, offsets, Kerala, India, set up to generate A study by Mongabay and
pricing and removals. Article carbon credits, is poisoning the the New Humanitarian found
6 of the Paris Agreement air of the densely populated that the UN’s carbon neutrality
gives a free pass to polluters surrounding villages. claims rely largely on carbon
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