New reports reveal carbon offset land grabs span 22 million acres worldwide, raising questions about effectiveness

Two major research organizations have released damning assessments of the global carbon offset industry, revealing that these climate programs may be doing more harm than good for both local communities and environmental goals.

The Land Matrix, a collaborative research initiative involving the International Land Coalition and multiple universities, documented over 9 million hectares (22 million acres) of land deals tied to carbon offset projects worldwide. Separately, the agricultural research organization GRAIN reached similar conclusions in their own analysis, though the two studies used different methodologies and timeframes.

Carbon offsets allow companies to purchase “credits” that theoretically compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that remove or prevent carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. However, both reports suggest these programs are falling short of their promises. The Land Matrix found that two-thirds of offset land deals involve REDD+ projects aimed at preventing deforestation, while GRAIN focused specifically on tree-planting initiatives between 2016 and 2024.

The research reveals significant gaps in oversight and accountability. The Land Matrix excluded China from their analysis due to lack of local partnerships, while GRAIN identified China as one of the top targets for land-based carbon projects. Both organizations highlight concerns about land grabbing in developing countries, where offset projects often displace local communities without delivering meaningful climate benefits. These findings add to growing skepticism about whether carbon offsets represent genuine climate action or simply allow polluters to continue business as usual while claiming environmental responsibility.