development of carbon code – experience from forestry
Post on 20-Oct-2014
1.274 views
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Chris Waterfield at VNN peatlands workshop, Leeds 19th January 2012TRANSCRIPT
Woodland Carbon Code Requirements for voluntary carbon sequestration schemes
Chris Waterfield - Forestry Commission
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Development
• Developed over last 3 years – FC lead
• Piloted early 2011 both projects and certification bodies
• Launched July 2011
• FC leading development with a Carbon Advisory Group
• Science input from FR and wider
• However it is still developing
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Why have a Woodland Carbon Code?
•Increasing interest in using woodlands to capture carbon
•There was no uniform standard, consistency or clarity in UK carbon projects
•Some potential investors were cautious
•Woodland creation is cost-
effective climate change
mitigation
•The UK government wishes
to encourage private funding
of woodland creation.
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
It’s not just about carbon….
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
What might the WCC do?
Construct a framework that may support a
compliance market for woodland
carbon credits in the future
Reassure the
market and
investors about
voluntary
woodland carbon
projects
Offer clarity and
transparency to customers
Provide rigorous carbon
measurement protocols
Encourage a consistent approach to
woodland carbon projects
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
How it fits in
• All UK woodland creation reported in the UK’s GHG emissions inventory (as per Kyoto)
• UK govt doesn’t allow Kyoto ‘offsets’ in the UK
• DEFRA GHG reporting guidelines
now allow companies to report
carbon sequestration in the UK
• Code doesn’t create carbon ‘offsets’
that can be traded in EU ETS or used
in Carbon Reduction Commitment.
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
The Code - Scope
Includes:
• Woodland creation
• Carbon sequestration and emissions within a woodland
Doesn’t include:
• Changes to management of existing woodlands
• Carbon stored in forest products
• Substitution effects (wood products or fuel)
• Avoided emissions from previous landuse
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
What to count?
Baseline – Changes to carbon within project boundary in the absence of the project
Leakage – Ongoing emissions outside project boundary as result of project
Project Carbon Sequestration – Changes to carbon within project boundary as a result of the project
Includes Sequestration/emission from:
Tree Biomass, Non-tree biomass, Soil, Management
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Applying
• Employ an agent/carbon company?
• Design your project
• Register your project
• Get certified (Project Validated at outset)
• Stay certified (Project Verified every 5 years)
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Certification
• 2 certification bodies SFQC, SGS will be accredited to assess projects
• Accredited by UK Accreditation Service
• Projects validated at outset
• Projects verified at 5-yearly intervals
• Project has unique ID and current status appears in Registry.
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Progress to date
Detailed best practice requirements & guidance developed
Pilot programme completed
Code launched in July 2011
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Progress to date:
• 39 Projects registered
• Hope to create > 2,200ha new woodland which over next 100 years will sequester >750,000 tCO2e
• Of the 39 …..
• 3 projects validated
• Will create > 300ha new woodland which over next 100 years will sequester > 115,000 tCO2e
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Future Developments
• Group scheme for certification: Pilot 2012
• Further developments to carbon measurement tools
• More interactive model + carbon lookup tables
• More work on soil carbon
• Further work to clarify permanence
• Legal aspects
• Carbon reporting & Market development
• Developing a register of carbon units (tCo2e) - Markit?
• Economic Appraisal Model
• Looking at novel models for encouraging investment
forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
E: [email protected] W: www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode