Dr. Edivando Vitor do CoutoLecce [ Southern Italy ] 26 august 2024– Recently, a dear friend of mine, who graduated with me and now works for one of those big organizations focused on peace and the environment, expressed some disappointment: “Edivando, you’ve sold out to capitalism and are now helping big corporations get a free pass to keep polluting.” Our conversation even touched on the issue of global overpopulation, but that’s a topic for another day.
Dr. Edivando
Well, I’ve long since left my radical days behind and now prefer to approach the world with a bit more pragmatism. Is the world really ready to give up its excessive consumption? The short answer is no. This is a geopolitically complex issue that has been debated since the Kyoto Protocol by powerful nations, diplomats, and global leaders. But let’s not dive into that right now.
What I can share is what I know about carbon credit projects and how they can indeed contribute to fighting climate change. Let me be clear: carbon credits are not a silver bullet to save the planet. They are just a small piece—an incredibly small piece—of the puzzle. And yes, before anyone reminds me, there are plenty of flaws and frauds out there. That’s why it’s crucial to tackle these issues and improve the quality and integrity of these projects. As my mother used to say, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
That said, the carbon market does bring some positive aspects, such as:
Economic Incentives for hashtag#EnvironmentalProtection
Equitable Distribution of Benefits
Protection and Empowerment of Traditional Communities
Improvement of Living Conditions
Mitigation of hashtag#ClimateChange
Community Empowerment
And many more.
eyesonbrasil visiting Dr. Edivando in Munich
At the end of the day, the carbon market is far from perfect, but it can make a difference if used wisely and responsibly.
It’s not going to save the planet on its own, but it’s also not the villain some make it out to be. The real solution will come from a combination of actions, where each plays its part, and carbon credits are just one piece of the global puzzle. If there’s one thing history has taught us, it’s that the path to change often lies in balancing idealism with pragmatism.
While we dream of a better world, we have to work with what we’ve got.
