GREEN’S BLACK MARKS

World leaders have pledged to restrict global warming to 1.5% by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. Industries that want to continue pumping out carbon claim they can compensate for it through offsetting projects such as planting trees, which absorb carbon. However, critics point to serious flaws in such schemes, including:

■ When you fly, carbon is immediately released into the atmosphere, whereas trees will take many years to absorb it.

■ Carbon in trees can be easily released back into the atmosphere, as the forest fires currently raging around the world prove.

■ Some offsetting plantations are “monocultures” which involve the planting of single types of tree, so they have limited environmental benefit.

■ Offsetting projects which restrict how rainforests are used by local people amount to getting the Third World to clear up the mess made by the rich West.