The scientists, hailing from nine countries including the UK, US, and Australia, are concerned that many carbon offsets do not genuinely reduce emissions. Among the notable signatories are Prof. Michael Mann from the University of Pennsylvania, Prof. Johan Rockström of the Potsdam Institute, and Bill Hare, founder of Climate Analytics.

The pledge criticizes the current reliance on offset programs, which often focus on tree growth or conservation efforts, as these do not guarantee permanent carbon storage. Prof. Katrin Meissner from the University of New South Wales pointed out that events like droughts and wildfires can release stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

The scientists argue that using offsets allows companies to continue high-carbon activities without making necessary reductions in emissions, which is considered dangerous given the urgency of climate action to meet Paris Agreement targets. Prof. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick from Australian National University likened "net zero" to a temporary fix that fails to address the root causes of carbon emissions.

Russell Reichelt, an Australian ambassador on sustainable oceans, expressed concerns about the capacity of natural sinks, such as forests and oceans, to absorb additional CO2, especially as these ecosystems struggle under current emissions levels.

The pledge has garnered attention as part of a broader conversation around the effectiveness of carbon offsetting in climate strategies, with calls for a more direct approach to reducing fossil fuel use.