Shell uses offsetting schemes like these to disguise the true climate impacts of their business - claiming that by investing in protecting forests and other land they are neutralising the destructive nature of their activities. Pushing offsetting offers no real solution to the severe crisis we face - but Shell’s projects fail even on their own terms.

Unearthed investigated three of Shell’s carbon offsetting projects and found no clear climate benefit:
- A Shell project in Indonesia claims to protect an area of peatland rainforest from timber and palm oil plantations. But this land doesn’t need Shell’s investment - it’s already protected by the government. It’s similar to the deal they claim is working for them in Peru
- In Scotland, a tree planting project has already been paid for by the Scottish government, and will be counted by the UK as part of its net zero plan. Shell can’t count the same tree twice!