Rachel Rose Jackson is the director of research and international policy at Corporate Accountability.
More about this author
Rachel Rose Jackson is director of climate research and policy at Corporate Accountability, where she monitors industry interference in climate policymaking and develops policy pathways centered on accountability and equity. She works closely with Indigenous, frontline, and lower-income communities around the world to advance just, people-centered responses to the climate crisis.
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Demand Climate Justice | June | 2024
The transcript of a speech Jackson delivered on behalf of the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice.
Democracy Now! | December | 2023
At the COP28 U.N. climate summit in Dubai, a record 2,500 fossil fuel lobbyists attended, alarming activists. These lobbyists come from oil and gas companies like Shell and ExxonMobil. Activists argue that letting polluters shape climate decisions is like inviting weapons dealers to a peace meeting.
Groups such as Fridays for Future, the Indigenous Environmental Network, and Pacific Climate Warriors say fossil fuel companies cause environmental harm, take resources from Indigenous lands, and block real climate progress.
These lobbyists get special access to negotiators, even influencing decisions behind closed doors. Activists demand that fossil fuel lobbyists be removed from climate talks so countries can focus on phasing out oil, gas, and coal.Media by this author
Interview | November | 2022
Rachel Rose Jackson, director of Climate Research & Policy at Corporate Accountability, discusses Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference on TVC News Nigeria.
Feature | June | 2022
Experts from the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice are talking about how we can quickly shift to a fair and sustainable future that keeps global warming under 1.5°C. Their plan includes cutting emissions down to real zero—not just offsetting them—and getting much more money to help countries adapt to climate impacts and recover from losses and damage.
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For decades, leaders and businesses have promoted carbon offsets as a key solution to climate change. But studies show offsets have never led to a sustained decrease in global greenhouse gas emissions. Many projects are flawed and don’t actually reduce carbon. Still, the VCM is expected to grow to billions of dollars by 2035.
The offset industry is now trying to “rebrand” itself as VCM 2.0, claiming that new rules and standards will fix the problems. However, research shows that the problems continue. In 2024, almost 48 million “problematic” offsets were sold, and most came from countries in the Global South. Many projects exaggerated their benefits or did not permanently store carbon.
Experts warn that relying on offsets allows polluters to avoid making real emissions cuts. If the world keeps trusting the VCM instead of reducing pollution directly, we risk failing to stop catastrophic climate change.