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submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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Link to the actual 'paper' here: https://offset.labr.io/methodology/

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[-] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 30 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think you might be reading a bit too much into the joke, which is the idea of a scientific paper on giving carbon credits to people conducting actual industrial sabotage, a hilarious concept in itself.

But taking it more seriously, I suppose the argument could be made that delaying large amounts of carbon from being released means reducing X amount of time that carbon in the atmosphere has to contribute to warming and potential feedback cycles. Producing something in a different factory may take time, and while the same amount would potentially be emitted at the new factory, delaying it may not be entirely useless (at least, in my uneducated intuition!).

There are too many variables to know with absolute certainty if a particular sabotage action is overall carbon positive or negative based on how much extra carbon would be emitted to fix the sabotage (depends on the type of sabotage). But if the sabotage results in that production not occurring at all due to making the whole ordeal more costly, it would likely be overall a positive carbon action.

[-] deegeese@sopuli.xyz -1 points 1 day ago

I checked the publication date and it was not April 1, so I assume they’re serious.

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 11 points 1 day ago

Wow humans are limited to one day per year to make all satire, parody and humor?

[-] deegeese@sopuli.xyz -4 points 1 day ago

Yes that’s exactly what I said 🤡

[-] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 16 points 1 day ago

You might want to take a look at the About page, and their Disclaimer at the bottom:

Notice and disclaimer from the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art:

This digital commission is an artwork which has been supported by the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) to link from this website, but remains the property and ultimate responsibility of the commissioned artists.

ACCA acknowledges the value of direct action and political activism. We note that this project is a speculative artwork and provocative intervention into the carbon offset economy. As an organisation, we do not promote illegal activities. ACCA does not make any guarantees, representations or warranties in respect to this artwork, including in relation to quality, operability or data security and has no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense you might incur if you interact with this project, including arising from any data breach, virus or other contamination.

That it looks like a real paper is part of the joke, it's pointing out the absurdity of companies trying to continue to emit carbon as long as they can use carbon credits, which doesn't address the root problem. The joke of the paper is essentially; what if a researcher who was paid by a mega corp to find a 'solution' (which the corp would want to be greenwashing), actually naively proposed a genuine solution using corporate friendly concepts and language.