ABSTRACT As pivotal nature‐based climate solutions (NbCS), forests are increasingly recognized for their climate mitigation potential. However, this potential is undermined by fundamental flaws in current carbon credit systems. Our analysis identifies four interconnected systemic challenges: (1) subjective additionality assessments arising from problematic baseline setting, (2) overestimation of permanence despite growing climate disruption risks, (3) inadequate leakage accounting that inflates mitigation gains, and (4) neglect of biophysical effects, such as albedo, which can substantially reduce net cooling outcomes. These deficiencies collectively erode the environmental integrity of forest carbon credits. To address this, we propose a novel comprehensive accounting framework that integrates dynamic baseline monitoring, science‐based risk buffering mechanisms, conservative leakage accounting, and full climate impact assessment. We argue that only through such rigorous standardization may forest carbon credits evolve from contested instruments into reliable climate assets.
Che et al. (Wed,) studied this question.