Carbon credit does not buy moral credit: moral licensing and perceived hypocrisy of carbon emission offsetting and reduction

Haoran Chu () and Shupei Yuan ()
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Haoran Chu: University of Florida
Shupei Yuan: Northern Illinois University

Climatic Change, 2025, vol. 178, issue 3, No 15, 20 pages

Abstract: Abstract The 1.5 °C global temperature increase target necessitates the transition to net zero emission in various sectors to mitigate the potential threat of global climate change. Net zero may be achieved through diverse means, but stakeholders tend to favor direct emission cuts over offsetting through carbon credit purchases. However, it is unclear what motivates such preferences. Three experiments (N = 2,215), including one pre-registered, were conducted to unpack public moral evaluations of carbon emission reduction and offsetting. While offsetting gives companies moral credit and credentials, it is seen as hypocritical even when net zero or negative emission was achieved. However, mixing offsetting with reduction alleviates the hypocrisy perception. Such moral evaluations subsequently lead to different attitudinal and behavioral responses among key stakeholders. Our findings highlight that emission offsetting cannot substitute reduction and call for more transparent climate communication.

Keywords: Carbon emission; Emission reduction; Carbon offsetting; Moral licensing; Hypocrisy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-03897-5

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