One of the most notable outcomes from last year's United Nations Climate Conference was the ratification of Article 6 of the Paris Climate Accords. This implements new rules governing the buying and selling of credits representing carbon emissions “offset” by projects ranging from tree planting to renewable energy development.

Over 5,000 companies have already made commitments to achieve "net-zero" greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The “net” in many of those commitments? Offsets.

Unfortunately, this could spell trouble for the climate. Corporate polluters have used offsets as an excuse to keep emitting, and in some cases, offsets have actually added carbon to the atmosphere. What’s more, offset programs have enabled land-grabbing and violations of Indigenous rights in the Amazon.

Amazon Watch opposes offsets because they are a false solution to achieve an illusory “net zero.” We are working to track and oppose offset initiatives that threaten Indigenous rights and allow polluters to continue to endanger our climate and the rainforest.