NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO • March 5, 2023
We asked six climate scholars for the questions they ask themselves whenever they come across something claiming to be a climate solution. One big way to address climate change is to reduce the main human activity that caused it in the first place: burning fossil fuels. Scientists say that means ultimately transitioning away from oil, coal and gas and becoming more energy efficient. We already have a lot of the technology we need to make this transition, like solar, wind, and batteries. All kinds of companies offer to let you buy "carbon offsets" along with your purchase. But there are often problems with regulation and verification of offsets. With offsets from forests, it's hard to verify if the trees are really being protected, that those trees won't get cut down or burned in a wildfire. There's no one solution to climate change - and no one can do it alone. Climate solutions will involve governments, businesses, and individuals. It is an all hands on deck kind of a situation.