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BIF
FN
Car
bon
Day
Aug
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7
Box Ironbark Farm Forestry Network
Members ‘Carbon Day’
Epsom 25th Aug 2007
BIF
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Car
bon
Day
Aug
200
7
BIFFN Carbon Day
Introduction– What is Carbon?– Why is it a problem?
Solutions– Measure, avoidance, reduction & offsetting
Future– What options currently exist?– What do we want to know more about……?
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What is Carbon?
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Combined with water they get from the soil, to
make the substances they need for growth. The process of photosynthesis incorporates the
carbon atoms from carbon dioxide into sugars. Animals eat the plants and use the carbon to build
their own tissues. Other animals eat the rabbit and then use the
carbon for their own needs. Carbon dioxide is returned into the air when they
breathe, and when they die, since the carbon is returned to the soil during decomposition.
The carbon atoms in soil may then be used in a new plant or small micro organisms.
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The greenhouse effect is…
essential to most life on Earth.
what prevents the Earth from freezing over.
capable of producing too much global warming, which in turn may change our environment forever.
in the Earth's atmosphere, a barrier to stop heat
escaping from the Earth. a cosy layer around the Earth,
which keeps the surface temperature at an average of 15°C.
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Where does the name ‘greenhouse effect’ come from?
A greenhouse is designed to keep plants warm. Visible light comes through the glass and heats the
ground and air inside the greenhouse. The main reason a greenhouse then stays warm is that
it stops the warm air inside mixing with the colder outside air by the process of convection.
The process going on in a greenhouse really isn't the same as that in the Earth's atmosphere, but the result might be considered to be similar and so the name seems to have stuck.
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Global warming….
For planets, such as the Earth, there is always a delicate balance between the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the resulting temperature on the planet’s surface.
It is this balance that may be upset if human activity changes the contents of our atmosphere by, for example, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide.
If we do that, the average temperature all over the Earth may increase significantly and we would have global warming, which could possibly lead to serious climate change
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Why is global warming a problem?
Advanced life on Earth has evolved in the present environment and humans have learnt to live on the planet under these conditions.
Global warming could change these conditions so that a dramatic change in the balance of life on Earth and the ways humans live might be needed.
It is not the greenhouse effect itself that is bad. A problem only occurs if any changes in the strength of the effect lead to large changes in the Earth's climate on a very short timescale.
Even small changes in temperature could have a devastating effect on the Earth’s climate and environment leading, for example, to more storms, droughts and floods.
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What are greenhouse gases?
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 1
Methane (CH4) 21
Nitrous Oxide (N20) 310 Hydroflurocarbons (HFC’s) 11,700 Perflurocarbons (PFC’s) 9,200 Sulfur Hexaflouride (SF6) 23,900 Water Vapour
Global Warming Potential
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Where atmospheric carbon originates….carbon source
Fossil fuel emissions– This is the largest source of carbon buildup
Soil organic carbon destruction– Through tillage and soil erosion, soil organic carbon is oxidised and
released into the atmosphere Deforestation
– As forests are burned for land clearing or other reasons carbon is released onto the atmosphere
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Where does carbon go…carbon sink
Diffuses into the oceans– Ocean waters contain dissolved carbon dioxide and calcium
carbonate in the form of shells and marine organisms Into plant life (Biosphere)
– All living and dead organisms Into soil organic carbon
– Anything living in the soil such as plant roots, microbes, or fungus Lithosphere (Earth’s crust)
– Consists of fossil fuels and sedimentary rock like limestone, dolomite and chalk
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What causes Carbon Dioxide to increase?
When coal or other fossil fuels are burnt, the carbon in them reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
This increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and can upset the delicate ‘greenhouse’ balance.
More energy will be absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, and this
raises the temperature of both the atmosphere and the Earth.
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How does this increase in CO2 cause global warming?
Most of the light energy from the sun is emitted in wavelengths shorter than 4,000 nanometers (.000004 meters).
The heat energy released from the earth, however, is released in wavelengths longer than 4,000 nanometers.
Carbon dioxide doesn't absorb the energy from the sun, but it does absorb some of the heat energy released from the earth.
When a molecule of carbon dioxide absorbs heat energy, it goes into an excited unstable state. It can become stable again by releasing the energy it absorbed.
Some of the released energy will go back to the earth and some will go out into space.
So in effect, carbon dioxide lets the light energy in, but doesn't let all of the heat energy out, similar to a greenhouse.
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How do Australians rate?
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What do we need to do?
We need to reduce our current CO2 emission levels aswell as absorbing existing amounts of CO2 which have been released in the past.
Basically we need to reduce CO2 levels by 20-30% by 2020
And 60-90% by 2050…..
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What are the solutions?
Measurement– To reduce the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere firstly we need to measure our
current levels…
Avoidance– The quickest and simplest way of reducing CO2 is to avoid releasing it….
Reduction– If you can’t avoid releasing CO2 then reducing the amount is the next best
thing..
Offsetting– What ever is left over can be absorbed back into the earth via offset
solutions…
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Measuring CO2 levels…
(Link to web calculators…Paul do you have any preferred sites to goto???)
The Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Activity have a Tree Carbon Calculator www.????
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Avoiding & Reducing CO2..
Drive less Less Domestic & International Flights Use less energy Solar Hot Water Triple A shower heads Community Gardens Eat locally produced foods Eat fruit and vegies in season
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Offsetting CO2 emissions….Carbon Offsets
A carbon offset is a project or activity that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequesters carbon from the atmosphere that is used to compensate for GHG emissions from another project, activity, or business.
The first step is to estimate your emissions. their business as a whole;
Businesses can then purchase ‘credits’ from emission reduction or carbon sequestration activities occurring at another location to offset their calculated emissions.
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Offsetting CO2 emissions….Carbon Offsets
Offsetting can be an effective component of a strategy for mitigating GHG emissions because GHGs tend to have a long life span and it is the levels of GHGs at a global scale that are important. This means it is not necessarily relevant where gases are emitted or reduced, as the effect on the atmosphere is the same.
Offsets are usually measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, and can be sourced from a variety of projects that reduce or sequester emissions of one or more of the six key greenhouse gases.
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Why have offsets become such a hot commodity?
Companies are exploring carbon offsets in response to regulatory requirements as well as voluntary commitments.
On the regulatory side, offsets help companies cost-effectively achieve GHG reduction targets such as those set out in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.
Voluntary purchases of offsets may occur for a range of reasons, including:
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Why have offsets become such a hot commodity?
meeting business goals to reduce greenhouse footprint as part of a carbon management strategy.
preparing for an emissions trading scheme or other regulatory mechanisms, including gaining market experience.
enhancing brands and/or differentiating products and/or services in the market
attracting investors particularly in light of increasing awareness of risks associated with GHG emissions in carbon constrained future.
engaging employees on environment issues.
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What is Carbon trading?
Carbon trading is an administrative approach used to control CO2 by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of CO2
Carbon Trading links the sequesters of CO2
and the emitters via an agreement either for voluntary or regulatory reasons.
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What are the buyers of Carbon looking for?
Is it clear exactly what is being offered? For example does the offset provider specify
the source of the emissions credit? Can the buyer select credits from a specific
project as opposed to a credit arising from a portfolio of projects?
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What are the buyers of Carbon looking for?
Can the offset provider demonstrate that the offsets meet their quality requirements?
For example, would the project(s) have happened without the GHG offset market?
Can they demonstrate that the offsets are not sold to multiple-buyers?
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What are the buyers of Carbon looking for?
Does the offset provider create offset credits in line with a standard or regulation?
Have the offsets been validated against a third-party standard by a credible source?
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What are the buyers of Carbon looking for?
Does the offset provider sell offsets that will increase in the future?
If so, how long into the future, and can they explain why they need to "forward sell" the offsets?
How will they compensate or make good if the project doesn’t deliver the expected emissions reductions?
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What are the buyers of Carbon looking for?
Continually review their carbon management strategy. In most instances, onsite reductions are the most cost
effective way to achieve their business goals or targets. Communicate their actions. Let their staff, their stakeholders and customers know
the steps they took to purchase their offsets. Be transparent about which offsets they purchased and
the standards to which they were accredited.
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What are the main types of offsets available?
Bio-sequestration The most popular form of offsets in the voluntary market at present relate
to biosequestration (eg. forestry projects). Trees soak up carbon, and thus can reduce the quantity of greenhouse
gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. The quality and aims of biosequestration offset products vary widely, and
not all of these products meet the strict requirements necessary to be verified against offset standards.
The permanence of these products requires particular attention, however when appropriately planned, these plantations can have co-benefits, such as counteracting salinity and improving biodiversity.
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What are the main types of offsets available?
Energy efficiency A number of options for energy efficiency offset products are
available, ranging from major upgrades of manufacturing processes to distribution of energy efficient products.
As identified in a report by RMIT’s Global Sustainability Institute, "energy efficiency offset products have some perceived risks relating to the accuracy and reliability of baseline measurement and changes over time in energy use.
" However these projects can also have co-benefits of education and long-term behaviour change.
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What are the main types of offsets available?
Renewable energy Renewable energy offsets can include wind, solar,
biomass and other renewable energy sources, which help reduce reliance on fossil fuel sources.
However there are questions over whether renewable energy offset products meet additionality criteria in more stringent offset standards.
Despite this, the use of renewable energy can play an important part in a carbon management strategy.
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What are the main types of offsets available?
Greenhouse gas avoidance, capture and destruction projects.
These are usually located on industrial sites, and can range from capture and/or flaring of landfill gases to destruction of HFCs in large industrial processes.
These often target the less common, but more potent greenhouse gases, such as methane, HFCs, etc.
While these offset products are available in Australia, they are presently less common than other types of offset products described in previous slides.
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Are there any standards?
NSW GHG Abatement Scheme (GGAS) AGO Greenhouse Friendly Abatement
Verification Guidelines Origin Energy Carbon Reduction Scheme
(CRS)
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Carbon Offset Providers
RMIT recently released a report on Carbon Offset Providers in Australia 2007
The handout you have summarises all of the Australian products available
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As a grower or seller of carbon what are you looking for?
Carbon trading is value adding to the existing plantation.
Don’t want any agreement interfering with my current practices and objectives.
What happens when I harvest my trees? What about during thinning? Where are my credits being used?
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Carbon trading is value adding to the existing plantation.
Growers need to remember that the true purpose of growing plantation timber is for the harvesting of saw logs over a long period of time for economic benefits.
Carbon credits may help in covering the cost of establishing the plantation, but will only value add to the total long term economic return of the plantation.
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Carbon trading is value adding to the existing plantation.
However, the market is emerging and will grow as demand increases.
The advice is to ‘shop’ around and get the best agreement for your circumstances.
It may not just be ‘price’. It could be a number of factors. What is important is to make sure you stick to
your original objective with your plantation.
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7Don’t let any agreement interfere with your current practices and objectives
‘Value Adding’ means to only add in the order of 10 –20% to the total economical benefits.
Make sure you don’t ‘lock’ into any agreements that restrict your capacity to deliver the long term saw log potential of your plantation.
If they do, then look around, products do exist that will suit your needs.
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What happens when I harvest my trees?
This will depend on the ‘agreement’ you enter into. The Kyoto agreement does not recognize that wood
products can be used without releasing carbon for upto 100 years.
Therefore when you harvest you may need to find an offset for this emission.
‘Shop’ around products do exist that allow for plantation harvest without having to pay for carbon.
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What about during thinning?
Should not have any impact on the sequestering of carbon.
However, ensure you are clear on any restrictions when entering into any agreements.
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Where are my credits being used?
Some buyers of ‘carbon’ maybe on selling your carbon to emitters that have no intention to reduce their own emissions.
Some products use your carbon to offset against practices that emit carbon including land clearing or manufacturing that should be avoided due to regulatory reasons.
Your trees could be offsetting practices on the other side of the world.
Your credits could be contributing to the ‘license to pollute’, rather that encouraging a reduction in emissions.
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General Guidelines for growers….
Buyers want you to lock your trees away, for atleast 70 – 100 years. The longer the better and better the price.
Trees to be planted on cleared land after 1990. Trees had to be planted by humans intervention. The land practice is to have changed. Kyoto will ‘pay’ for trees planted after 1990 but only for
carbon accumulated between 2008 and 2012. Some buyers will purchase carbon between 1990 and 2008. Covenanted land will provide the greatest certainty and
hence price.
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General Guidelines for growers….
Quality assurance remains the biggest challenge
Australian offset providers lag behind UK and US peers.
Providers lack transparency and availability of information for both buyers and sellers.
