A new study published in Nature suggests that the insurance mechanisms for the largest U.S. forest carbon offset programs are significantly undersized. Researchers found that buffer pools, which are meant to cover carbon losses from wildfires and drought, may be up to 8 times too small to handle projected climate risks. This gap means that corporate buyers using these offsets to meet emissions targets may be relying on credits that do not provide durable climate benefits. The findings highlight a critical need for carbon protocols to update how they calculate risk in the face of increasing natural disturbances.
