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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Adam Morton Climate and environment editor

Labor’s unlimited use of carbon offsets could lead to rise in emissions, report says

A view of the Mt Pleasant thermal coal open cut mine.
A report by Climate Analytics has calculated that for every carbon credit used to offset a tonne of emissions from coalmining, between 58-67 tonnes of CO2 are ultimately emitted. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

An Australian government proposal to allow big polluters to use unlimited carbon offsets as an alternative to cutting their own greenhouse gases would likely greenlight new coal and gas developments and lead to a rise in emissions, a new analysis says.

The report by Climate Analytics found land-based offsets – created through projects including tree planting and forest regeneration – had fundamental scientific problems that meant they would not deliver what was promised of them.

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