Development of carbon code – experience from forestry

Woodland Carbon CodeRequirements for voluntary carbon sequestration schemes Chris Waterfield - Forestry Commission

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 usingwoodlands to capture carbon•There was no uniformstandard, consistency orclarity in UK carbon projects•Some potential investorswere cautious•Woodland creation is cost-effective climate changemitigation•The UK government wishesto encourage private fundingof woodland creation. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

It’s not just about carbon…. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

What might the WCC do? Offer clarity Encourage a and consistent transparency to Provide rigorous approach to customers carbon woodland carbon measurement projects protocols Construct a Reassure the framework that market and may support ainvestors about compliance market for woodland voluntary carbon credits inwoodland carbon the future 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 guidelinesnow allow companies to reportcarbon sequestration in the UK• Code doesn’t create carbon ‘offsets’that can be traded in EU ETS or usedin Carbon Reduction Commitment. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

The Code - ScopeIncludes:• Woodland creation• Carbon sequestration and emissions within a woodlandDoesn’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 boundaryin the absence of the projectLeakage – Ongoing emissions outside projectboundary as result of projectProject Carbon Sequestration – Changes to carbonwithin project boundary as a result of the projectIncludes 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 dateDetailed bestpracticerequirements &guidance developedPilot programmecompletedCode launched inJuly 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: climatechange@forestry.gov.ukW: www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

Development of carbon code – experience from forestry

by Aberdeen CES on Feb 17, 2012

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