Category: Society Paradoxes

  • 26. Profits Paradox

    From smartphones to electric vehicles to new social media platforms, success is measured by profitability. Once a product or service becomes commercially viable, it scales. At every sustainability conference, you’ll hear the same mantra, chanted like a sacred verse: sustainability must make commercial sense, or it won’t scale. Similarly, society celebrates bold investors who take…

  • 25. Intentions Paradox

    Carbon credits attract a diverse range of stakeholders, all driven by good intentions and a shared goal of making a positive impact. Some champion carbon credits as an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gases, while others highlight their potential to drive innovation. Many are motivated by funding opportunities, supporting initiatives such as forest conservation or…

  • 24. Expectations Paradox

    This paradox deals with (overblown) expectations.  Carbon credits were created for two purposes. First and foremost, they are here to finance greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Second, they shall promote sustainable development in the host countries.  When buying carbon credits from a community-based project, such as efficient cookstoves, regenerative agriculture or forest restoration, our hopes and…

  • 23. Size Paradox

    Every year, we spend a lot of money on electronic gadgets, meat, clothes, and much more.  The voluntary carbon market has a total size of less than two billion USD. The global market for electronic gadgets is around 500 times bigger. The global meat market is more than 700 times bigger. The clothes market is…

  • 21. Transparency Paradox

    Everyone agrees that transparency is a cornerstone of any carbon credit project. In fact, “transparency and integrity” has emerged as the battle cry of anybody active in the carbon markets.  But here’s an interesting twist: Projects registered under the large carbon standards are already documented with remarkable transparency–especially when compared to traditional development finance projects…

  • 19. Ideologies Paradox

    How is it possible that climate campaigners and fossil fuels lobbyists sometimes form alliances to bring down pragmatic climate action? This is the paradox we explore today. Climate action has a deep ideological divide: one side argues for urgent, drastic measures, while the other fears that aggressive climate policies could harm economic growth.  Paradoxically, these…

  • 18. Crowds Paradox

    The power of large groups to influence society is typically impressive: whether in music, sports, protests, or celebrations, crowds often amplify impact. Have you ever participated in a “critical mass” bicycle parade when thousands of bikers flock to the streets, singing and dinging? You know what we are talking about; crowds can be very powerful. …

  • 17. Novelty Paradox

    Today’s paradox investigates why we tend to be more enthusiastic about unproven climate solutions rather than proven ones. Many innovative climate technologies are still in early development and far from being deployed on large scale. Meanwhile, established solutions like solar roofs and reforestation have reliably reduced carbon emissions for decades.  Logically, you would think the…

  • 14. Science Paradox

    Today’s paradox focuses on a question that has haunted carbon markets since their inception: We all want “scientifically proven” results. The problem is, science evolves. Science isn’t about absolutes. It’s about a preponderance of the evidence and concurrence of experts, especially when you have social sciences layered on top of physical sciences, as is the…

  • 10. Claims Paradox

    Today’s paradox deals with “climate claims”. When companies set bold climate goals but fall short, “greenwashing” accusations are almost inevitable—even if the intentions are genuine. One way to navigate this is, paradoxically, by softening the claims while keeping them engaging. For instance: Saying “We’re fully committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement” is less…

  • 9. Perfection Paradox

    Here’s a paradox so prominent it’s become a cliche: the perfect is the enemy of the good. Few decisions we make are based on certainty. They’re all based on probabilities derived from incomplete information: Should I quit my job to pursue my entrepreneurial dream? Will the tropical storm become a hurricane and should I abandon…

  • 3. Ethics Paradox

    This paradox touches on ethics. Is it morally right to put a price on nature? Is it ethically correct to use capitalism, which caused much of the climate crisis, to solve it? And here’s another: is it ethical to develop carbon projects in poorer countries when wealthier nations caused most of the damage?  We degrade…