First Thing: Top carbon offset projects may not cut planet-heating emissions

Majority of offset projects that have sold the most carbon credits are likely to be junk'. Plus, how lucid dreams can make us fitter, more creative and less anxious

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The vast majority of the environmental projects most frequently used to offset greenhouse gas emissions appear to have fundamental failings, suggesting they cannot be relied upon to cut planet-heating emissions, according to an analysis.

What did the research find? A total of 39 of the top 50 emission offset projects, or 78%, were categorised as likely to be junk or worthless because of one or more fundamental failing that undermined its promised emission cuts. Overall, $1.16bn of carbon credits have been traded so far from the projects classified by the investigation as likely junk or worthless; a further $400m of credits bought and sold were potentially junk.

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