As carbon offsetting faces ‘credibility revolution’, shoppers should be wary

The Guardian’s joint investigation into the rainforest credits indicated that many of them are worthless and often do not prevent any deforestation at all. Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images

The appeal is obvious: for a few pounds, we can – in theory – cancel out the damage we do to the planet by protecting a threatened rainforest.

We can fly and eat “carbon neutral” and even offset CO₂ emissions from our breath, making our entire existence “carbon neutral” under the logic of offsetting. If only life were so simple.