Đề thi VSTEP Reading C1 — Carbon Offset Markets (mẫu 5)

The proliferation of voluntary carbon offset markets has been promoted as a vital mechanism for mitigating climate change. Corporations purchase credits representing tonnes of CO₂ either avoided or sequestered through projects such as reforestation, renewable energy installations, and methane capture. Proponents argue that such schemes enable emitters in the Global North to compensate for emissions they cannot yet eliminate, channelling capital toward sustainable development in the Global South. However, a growing body of empirical research has exposed significant shortcomings. A 2023 investigation published in a respected journal found that over 40% of offsets from a major registry failed to deliver the emissions reductions they promised. Common problems included overestimation of baseline emissions, project double-counting, and the use of hypothetical counterfactuals that exaggerated environmental benefits. Moreover, critics contend that offsetting may function as a moral licence, enabling corporations to defer genuine decarbonisation while projecting an image of environmental responsibility. This dynamic, sometimes termed 'carbon colonialism,' raises deeper questions about whether market-based instruments can meaningfully address structural inequities in the global climate system. These critiques suggest that offsets should function as a transitional complement to, rather than a substitute for, rigorous emissions reduction strategies.