CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH CARBON CREDITS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTIVENESS OF OFFSET PROJECTS
Abstract
The increase in greenhouse gas emissions intensified global warming and expanded the environmental impacts associated with climate change. In this context, carbon credits became strategic instruments within international climate mitigation policies, operating as economic mechanisms focused on emission compensation and environmental project financing. This study aimed to critically analyze the environmental effectiveness of carbon offset projects and the principal challenges associated with carbon markets, with emphasis on the Brazilian scenario. The research was conducted through a qualitative and descriptive bibliographic review based on scientific articles, institutional reports, legislation, and technical documents published between 2000 and 2025. The results indicate that carbon credits represent important climate governance mechanisms, especially in projects related to reforestation, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and forest conservation. However, structural limitations associated with additionality, monitoring systems, price volatility, regulatory fragility, and greenwashing risks were identified. It is also observed that part of the projects prioritizes compensation mechanisms instead of effective emission reduction at the source. Brazil presents significant potential for nature-based solutions because of its biodiversity and territorial extension, although regulatory bureaucracy, legal instability, and dependence on fossil fuels remain major obstacles. The study concludes that carbon markets possess environmental and economic relevance but remain insufficient as isolated climate mitigation mechanisms, requiring broader decarbonization policies, stronger regulatory frameworks, and internationally standardized environmental verification systems.
Author Biography
Master in Technology Development from LACTEC – Instituto de Tecnologia para o Desenvolvimento, with expertise in sustainability, climate change, ESG, and environmental governance. Has experience in project management, institutional development, quality, and technological innovation in public and private organizations.
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