The conversation on climate change and mechanisms for global improvement have continued to persist. Carbon credits as a market-driven way of combating effects have also been popularized especially for entities that produce a lot of waste. As much as this is a very forward-driven idea that is being embraced rapidly, there is yet a factor that is often forgotten; human displacement.
The role of carbon credits in climate action
Carbon credits refer to a tradable permit given to companies for the emission of greenhouse gases to a certain level. The idea is simplified to a business agreement such that companies or countries that cannot reduce their emissions buy rights from those that are doing exceedingly well. This incentivizes their sustainable practices and force countries and companies to be mindful of the environment. In theory, this is an excellent idea geared towards combined efforts to reach global neutrality. Nonetheless, this approach has many controversies especially on the basis of inequalities in country capacities. Critics of this process argue that such offsets lead to challenges in other nations becoming burdensome for communities that are not well equipped.
The connection between carbon credits and displacement
One of the unplanned consequences of these permits is the displacement of communities, particularly in developing countries like Kenya. Carbon offset initiatives are often directed towards regions where land tenure is weak. In some cases, these projects have led to land grabs and loss of livelihoods. Take Tanzania for example, the Maasai community is being pushed from their ancestral land for the sake of green projects which are developed for carbon markets. In Kenya, we have cases of the same in the Mau giving way for the government to benefit from the market. The pattern goes on and on in African countries making their land an asset for the global north. When the question is giving up land and homes for global benefit, where do individual human rights disappear to?
Seeking equitable climate solutions
Since carbon credits are a solution for continued pollution, they must be given more responsibly with considerations of inequalities and vulnerabilities. Resulting projects should undergo a thorough assessment of impacts and include the feedback of the local community. Any disruptions to livelihoods and homes should follow fair compensation and written consent by the affected parties. No group should be disadvantaged in the process of finding sustainable solutions for the globe. Solutions cannot be sustainable if they lead to inequalities in other sectors of life. Individuals, entities and government workers must then be vigilant in their due diligence and participation in a better future.
By
Caroline Wanjiku Kamau