DW uncovered that dozens of Chinese climate projects, certified by the German authorities as carbon credits under the upstream emission reduction scheme, failed to deliver on promises to save millions of tons of carbon emissions. A joint investigation by DW and ZDF reveals how Germany was deceived – and exposes the shadowy company Beijing Karbon behind the alleged fraud.
Be aware that DW has closer ties to the German government than other German media institutes under public law like ARD and ZDF. This doesn’t mean that they’re wrong, but they’re more easily influencable to paint a certain picture desired by the government.
I found this report to be very disfavorable towards the German institution. Specifically, it exposed the failure of the state agency responsible for approving these projects/accepting these projects for offsetting carbon. They made a point that it only came out and is only now being investigated after it came out for other reasons.
Everything else, like there now being an investigation etc, was not able to remedy it in fact or presentation form.
I’m not saying it is wrong or misleading. To me it feels though as if DW is extending its reach lately and there is a risk in that.
Yes, the report is disfavourable to the institutions, but it is also disfavourable to the mechanism. I cannot prove it, but I don’t think carbon offsetting is very popular with the Greens and the social democrats, but they have to be careful not to risk established progress.