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Methods that equate temporary carbon storage with permanent CO2 emission reductions lead to false claims on temperature alignment.
- Source :
- Carbon Management; Dec2023, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-7, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- There has been renewed interest in equating temporary carbon storage with permanent CO<subscript>2</subscript> emission reductions, both within corporate GHG inventories and for carbon offset accounting. Proposed methods discount future emissions, such that carbon stored temporarily can be accounted for as (some fraction of) a permanent reduction in emissions. These approaches are problematic as long-term temperature change is primarily caused by cumulative CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions and delayed emissions accumulate in the atmosphere the same as any other emission of CO<subscript>2</subscript>. This perspective article uses illustrative examples to show how discounting future emissions results in false temperature alignment and net zero claims. We recommend that emissions and removals should be reported without discounting to ensure that GHG accounts accurately reflect contribution to cumulative emissions. There is value in temporarily storing carbon, e.g. it can reduce peak warming and buy time to implement permanent mitigation measures, but it cannot be treated as equivalent to permanent mitigation, and alternative approaches should be used to convey the value of temporary storage. Discounting emissions from temporarily stored carbon creates false alignment claims. Emissions should be reported without discounting. Temporary storage has value but must not be equated with permanent mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CARBON offsetting
GREENHOUSE gas mitigation
FALSE claims
LEAD
GREENHOUSE gases
CARBON
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17583004
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Carbon Management
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 174083916
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2023.2284714