Stories

We seek out the gaps in mainstream reporting to look where no one else is looking. We uncover the hidden actors shaping our politics, society and environment—stories that affect everyone.

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Scramble for Africa

29 November 2023

Scramble for Africa

An Emirati sheikh and an Italian fugitive are hoovering up land for an ambitious carbon offsetting project that critics say will make the climate crisis worse

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‘Blueprint for disaster’

9 October 2023

‘Blueprint for disaster’

An ambitious plan to re-engineer the carbon market could play havoc with net zero goals and raises questions about human rights

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Revolt of the South Pole penguins

13 July 2023

Revolt of the South Pole penguins

Carbon offsetting’s ‘unicorn’ wants to be an ultra-ethical social enterprise. Behind the scenes its deals with oil giants and authoritarian rulers are stirring dissent

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‘They came at night’: Armed men at Disney forest project razed farmers’ homes 

20 January 2023

‘They came at night’: Armed men at Disney forest project razed farmers’ homes 

Coffee growers say Peru authorities demolished houses on a conservation site generating millions of dollars in carbon credits for US entertainment giant

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The Carbon Con

18 January 2023

The Carbon Con

The world’s biggest companies, from Netflix to Ben & Jerry’s, are pouring billions into an offsetting industry whose climate claims appear increasingly at odds with reality

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Total’s Congo offsetting project ‘snatched our land’

12 December 2022

Total’s Congo offsetting project ‘snatched our land’

Farmers say oil giant’s tree-planting scheme has barred them from their fields and threatens livelihoods.

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Qatar World Cup relying on flawed carbon offsets

31 May 2022

Qatar World Cup relying on flawed carbon offsets

SourceMaterial analysis finds problems with the competition's claims

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Buy low, sell high:  What they don’t tell you about carbon offsets

2 May 2022

Buy low, sell high: What they don’t tell you about carbon offsets

As investors flock to a booming market, middlemen are pocketing cash that is supposed to fight climate change

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Shell ‘Drive Carbon Neutral’ claims in doubt after forest scrutiny

25 October 2021

Shell ‘Drive Carbon Neutral’ claims in doubt after forest scrutiny

As world leaders gather to debate the future of carbon offsetting, a SourceMaterial investigation raises questions about the oil giant’s net zero plans

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Top airlines’ promises to offset flights rely on ‘phantom credits’

4 May 2021

Top airlines’ promises to offset flights rely on ‘phantom credits’

British Airways, easyJet and other major carriers state that by supporting forest conservation projects they can offset emissions. A new investigation shows the bold claims can’t be verified

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