In Africa today, carbon credit projects have been implemented with the goal of providing benefits to local communities, such as by creating jobs, improving access to clean energy, and protecting natural resources. However, it is also true that some carbon credit projects have faced criticism for not delivering on their promised benefits, or for causing negative impacts on local communities.

An organization from Twitter identified as Irrigations Hub Kenya asked a question:

"Do people really understand the “CARBON CREDIT” business or its just another big term for tech crunchers with nothing trickling down to the farmers… Someone break it down.."


But what are carbon credits in the first place,


Carbon credits are a type of environmental policy instrument that allows organizations and individuals to offset their carbon emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.


The idea behind carbon credits is to create a market for greenhouse gas emissions, which encourages companies and individuals to reduce their emissions in order to sell their excess credits or buy credits to offset their own emissions.


Carbon credits have been heralded as a solution to climate change, a way for countries and companies to offset their carbon emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. These projects can range from reforestation and conservation to renewable energy and carbon capture.


However, carbon credits have come under criticism for their effectiveness and fairness. Many argue that they fail to address the root causes of climate change and only allow countries and companies to continue emitting greenhouse gases without making significant changes to their operations.


One of the major criticisms of carbon credits is that they often do not benefit the communities where the projects are located. African farmers, for example, may see little to no benefit from carbon credit projects that take place on their land. Instead, the profits from these projects often go to foreign companies or governments, leaving local communities with little to show for their contribution to climate action.


Imagine a small farming community in rural Africa. For generations, these farmers have relied on the land to grow their crops and raise their livestock. They live off the land and are deeply connected to their surroundings.


One day, a foreign company approaches the community with a proposal to plant trees on their land as part of a carbon credit project. The company promises that the project will help combat climate change and bring economic benefits to the community.

The farmers are skeptical, but they agree to the project in the hope that it will bring much-needed income to their community. They allow the company to plant trees and receive a small payment for their participation.

However, as the years go by, the farmers start to notice that the trees are taking up valuable land that could be used to grow crops. They also struggle to access the water they need to irrigate their fields because the trees are using up a large portion of the available water resources.


As the trees grow, the company starts to reap the profits from the carbon credits they generate. Meanwhile, the farmers see little to no benefit from the project. They struggle to make ends meet and are forced to rely on aid from the government and international organizations to survive.

The farmers feel frustrated and betrayed. They were promised that the carbon credit project would help their community, but it has only brought them hardship. They wonder where the profits from the project are going and why they have not seen any benefits.


This story illustrates the reality for many African farmers who have participated in carbon credit projects. While the intentions behind these projects may be good, they often fail to deliver on their promises and can have negative impacts on the communities where they take place. It is important to consider alternative approaches to tackling climate change that prioritize the needs of these communities and address the root causes of the problem.

In addition, carbon credits can be prone to fraud and abuse. Some projects may claim to be reducing or removing greenhouse gases, but in reality, they may not be achieving their stated goals. This undermines the integrity of the carbon credit system and undermines the efforts of the farmers to combat climate change.

One way the so-called “Tech crunchers” and other corporations exploit carbon credits with nothing trickling down to the farmers is by investing in projects that have little to no impact on greenhouse gas emissions. For example, a company may invest in a project that claims to be reforestation, but the trees planted may not survive or may be cut down for other purposes in the future. In this case, the company can still receive carbon credits for the project, even though it has not actually reduced greenhouse gas emissions and encouraged continuous farming.


Furthermore, carbon credits can be expensive, making them out of reach for many communities and small businesses. This means that the burden of climate action is often placed on those who can afford it, rather than being more evenly distributed.

To close on this, while carbon credits may seem like an attractive solution to climate change, they have significant limitations and fail to benefit many communities, particularly African farmers. It is important to consider alternative approaches to tackling climate change that prioritize the needs of communities and address the root causes of the problem.

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