Carbon offsetting through forests looks quite attractive and is attracting attention both in Finland and elsewhere. In short, the use of forests for carbon sequestration resembles a situation where a forest owner increases carbon sequestration in forests and is rewarded for it. Who pays the owner? Producers, consumers. The motive? This way, the activities of both producers and consumers are compensated by balancing them out with carbon sequestration in the forest.

A great idea! Wonderful. Could anything possibly go wrong?

It certainly could! Carbon neutrality based on carbon offsetting can easily lead to calculated negligence. Industries that compensate and pay for this compensation can briskly continue to "produce" emissions of fossil origin, while people can safely continue grilling meat over charcoal without changing any of their habits, because their reputation and conscience are clean – the "wrongful" habits have been paid for.