Heading to the Mountains? 85% of Carbon Offsets Don’t Work – Here’s Where to Donate for Real Change

Posted: 14.05.25 by Mike Pescod

It’s better to decarbonise the future, not just offset the past.

The BMG recognises the impact of our emissions on the mountain landscapes that we work in. While mountain sports, and particularly travel are difficult to decarbonise, we are committed to making a difference. We donate 1% of our member fees to high-impact climate solutions and provide education to our guides about climate change. You can read our commitment to the climate here.

Those of us who love to travel for climbing and skiing are all too aware of the impact that flying has on the climate. Yet taking the train isn’t always a viable option—it can be too expensive, too time-consuming, or simply impractical. So how do we reconcile our desire to protect the planet with our passion for exploring it? .

Despite our best efforts, many parts of modern life are still hard, or even impossible, to fully decarbonise. Even those of us who live simply and consciously still produce some unavoidable emissions. So once we’ve reduced our footprint as much as we can, what’s the next step? Is it possible to reach net zero – or even go beyond, and have a positive impact on the climate? This article explores why carbon offsetting often falls short, why real change requires both lifestyle shifts and systemic action, and which charities are most effective in driving climate impact.

 

Is carbon offsetting the answer?


The idea of buying back the emissions we produce is certainly appealing as it offers a simple way to ease the guilt of travel. But is it truly effective? Unfortunately, the reality is more complicated.

“In case after case, I found that carbon credits hadn’t offset the amount of pollution they were supposed to, or they had brought gains that were quickly reversed or that couldn’t be accurately measured to begin with. Ultimately, the polluters got a guilt-free pass to keep emitting CO₂, but the forest preservation that was supposed to balance the ledger either never came or didn’t last.”


Why don’t most carbon offsets actually work?

For a carbon offset to truly cancel out emissions, it has to meet two key conditions: it must be counterfactual and additional. Unfortunately, many offsets fail on both counts.

1. Counterfactual – “What would have happened without the project?”

Offsets only make sense if they lead to emissions cuts that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. But that’s really hard to prove.

Take forest conservation as an example:
It only reduces emissions if the trees were actually going to be cut down. But in many cases, there’s no real proof that was going to happen. Certifiers often rely on shaky assumptions, and developers have strong incentives to exaggerate the project’s impact. So, a lot of offsets are issued to protect forests that wouldn’t have been cut down anyway.

2. Additionality – “Would the project have happened without offset money?”

Let’s say someone builds a wind farm.
In some places, wind power is already profitable. That means the wind farm would’ve been built no matter what. Selling offsets in this case doesn’t actually fund anything new—it just puts a “green” label on something that was happening anyway.

But in other places, a wind farm might not be financially viable unless it can also sell carbon offsets. In that case, the offsets actually help the project happen—and that’s when they’re truly additional.

The problem is, it’s often hard to tell which situation you’re in. Developers want to sell offsets, so they might claim the money was essential—even when it wasn’t. And certifiers usually can’t fully verify that claim.

Beyond greenwashing – how to donate where it really makes a difference

Although the majority of carbon offsets are ineffective, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing we can do. In fact there are some highly effective charities working to mitigate climate change, it’s just important to choose the right ones.

Donations to effective climate charities have an outsized impact on reducing carbon emissions so those of us with the financial means to donate can really make a difference. Data sources: Giving Green, Hannah Ritchie, Founders Pledge and Mieux Donner.

How do we find these super effective charities?

Mieux Donner is a Chamonix-based non profit that collaborates with climate experts to identify the most cost-effective charities working on climate change—those that prevent the most emissions per euro donated.

‘Climbers and skiers are in a unique position to have a huge positive impact on the climate. We witness the impacts of climate change first hand, care deeply about the mountain environment, and have the financial means to donate. If we want a future where the landscapes we love to work and play in still exist, we need to take meaningful action today.’ (Jennifer Stretton, Founder of Mieux Donner and International Mountain Leader)

Who are Clean Air Task Force?

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a non-profit climate protection organisation that promotes policy and technology changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity, oil and gas production, industry, and transportation. Targeting fossil fuels is exceptionally important to mitigate climate change because fossil fuels still account for over 85% of the world’s primary energy consumption [4].

Read more about CATF

CATF’s Key Policy Achievements

CATF Technology Achievements 

CATF is pioneering next generation renewable energy. They are leading the way in super-hot rock geothermal power, one of the most promising future energy sources. This technology could provide 15% of the global energy demand growth by 2050, a game-changer for clean energy.

Who are Moors for the Future

Moors for the Future Partnership is a UK-based conservation initiative focused on protecting and restoring the country’s upland peatlands — often called “bogs” or “moors.” Peatlands are crucial ecosystems that act as giant carbon sinks, locking away vast amounts of carbon and helping to combat climate change. In the UK, peatlands cover about 12% of the land area, making their protection especially important.

In Scotland, 20% of the land area is peatland but 80% of it is degraded and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, accounting for 15% of total Scottish emissions. If we could restore all of this peatland it would sequester 24,000,000 tons of carbon each year which is over half the total annual emissions of Scotland. In addition, the benefit to biodiversity would be substantial.

Moors for the Future works across the Peak District and South Pennines (and sometimes beyond) to reverse the damage caused by centuries of overgrazing, pollution, drainage, wildfires, and erosion. 

 

Their work involves:

Motivated to act?

Donate to Clean Air Task Force

Donate to Moors for the Future

Donations to the Clean Air Task Force via this site are processed by the charity Mieux Donner, which passes on 100% of the funds. You’ll receive one receipt email from Mieux Donner, but no further messages unless you subscribe.

References

[1] 85% figure: How additional is the Clean Development Mechanism?
90% figure: 90% of carbon capture projects fail our criteria – but why? (Compensate) [Accessed 07/04/2025]

[2] Is the UN really climate neutral? No. (The New Humanitarian) [Accessed 07/04/2025]

[3] Overview of the voluntary carbon market (Giving Green) [Accessed 07/04/2025]

[4] Clean Air Task Force (Mieux Donner) [Accessed 07/04/2025] 

 

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