Beyond CO<SUB align=right>2lonialism: the potential for fair trade certification to embrace voluntary carbon offsets

Abstract

Carbon offset projects are a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Some offset projects cause immediate harm to the people and environment of developing countries while others provide questionable returns in terms of actual carbon capture and storage. Finally, carbon offset projects create barriers to industrialisation for developing countries. All of these challenges must be addressed if carbon offsets are to meet the promise of serving as both an effective solution to climate change and a development mechanism for countries in the global South. This paper examines the potential for fair trade to embrace and certify voluntary carbon offsets, thereby ensuring ethical, socially responsible offsets.