An investigation published by Reuters indicates that numerous carbon credit projects in the Brazilian Amazon, designed to conserve the rainforest, are linked to individuals and companies previously fined for illegal deforestation.

The analysis covered 36 conservation projects listed in the main registries of the voluntary carbon market. According to the report, at least 24 of these involve actors sanctioned by IBAMA, Brazil’s environmental authority, for practices such as unlicensed logging, illegal timber transport, and data falsification.

Despite this, Reuters found no evidence that these projects failed to meet their emissions reduction commitments relative to their baselines. Verra and Cercarbono, two key registries, announced formal investigations and reviews into the identified cases, with no confirmed impact on the integrity of the credits issued so far.

Among the companies that have acquired credits from these projects are Boeing, Telefónica, and Ecopetrol. Boeing and Telefónica defended their purchases, stating that they adhered to recognized standards; Ecopetrol declined to comment.

Brazilian authorities reiterated that the country’s records of environmental violations should be used as verification tools when evaluating projects that generate carbon offsets.

Source and Credits Reuters

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