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Could carbon offsetting save the world’s forests?

Following the money from your pocket to the forests of Zimbabwe as we find out how carbon credits work. What is your money spent on and how does it off set your carbon emissions?

Honey bees, cow dung and mulch - the company in Zimbabwe that is protecting the forests in order to offset carbon emissions. As Charlotte Ashton wrestles with ‘flight shame’, she wants to find out where her money goes if she chooses to offset her flight. She lives in Zimbabwe, but is from the UK and doesn’t have the money or time to spend three weeks at sea, sailing home to visit relatives. She focuses on a company based in Zimbabwe that runs one of the largest projects of its kind in the world and discovers how carbon credits work. Carbon Green Africa’s project focuses on protecting existing forests, rather than planting new trees and her journey takes her to some surprising places. In a programme recorded last November, Charlotte finds that preventing deforestation not only helps her offset her carbon emissions, but helps give people in a remote part of Zimbabwe new jobs and access to international markets.

Guests: Charles Ndondo and Rory Muil, Carbon Green Africa Christian Dannecker, South Pole
Presenter: Charlotte Ashton
Producer: Phoebe Keane

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29 minutes

Podcast