A study in npj Sustainable Agriculture explores the paradox of additionality in carbon markets. While designed to prevent free-ridership, strict additionality rules often disqualify projects that are economically viable or based on existing sustainable practices, pushing investors toward riskier, more expensive alternatives. This framework particularly impacts the agricultural sector, where incremental improvements in soil carbon storage struggle to secure funding. The research suggests moving toward dynamic baselines to better reward continuous improvements in carbon sequestration and accelerate climate progress.
