The article emphasizes the importance of adhering to mitigation hierarchies in addressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. These hierarchies, rooted in principles of environmentalism and adapted for various contexts, prioritize steps including Avoid, Reduce, Restore, and Compensate/Offset. While compensation mechanisms like offsets have gained traction, particularly in climate and biodiversity frameworks, the article warns against skipping steps in the hierarchy, which may only offer temporary solutions and could undermine meaningful progress. It traces the evolution of these hierarchies from natural resource management to waste and renewable energy strategies, highlighting the necessity of prioritizing emission reductions over compensation measures. Ultimately, the article calls for aligning corporate goals with international commitments and prioritizing avoidance and reduction measures guided by science before considering compensation mechanisms.
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