Key items unaddressed in new methodology for biomass plantations on land areas (Newsletter #2)

At the next EB meeting, the Board will consider approving the new methodology NM0278 for the “Use of Charcoal from Renewable Biomass Plantations as Reducing Agent in Pig Iron Mill in Brazil”. This methodology would allow the establishment of new biomass plantations on the following land areas:

(i)            Grasslands

(ii)           Forest plantation after its last rotation

(iii)          Degraded areas

In its last newsletter, CDM Watch encouraged the Board not to adopt this new methodology. Having taken this recommendation into account, the Board has forwarded the methodology to the Meth Panel and is now considering an updated proposal. Although the Meth Panel recommends the adoption of the methodology, CDM Watch believes that some crucial issues are still not addressed:

–        Replanting trees after the last rotation is common practice in forestry and does not lead to a “newly established plantation”, as required by the third applicability condition of the methodology. Moreover, using wood from existing forests, even if replanted after a rotation, does not lead to any emission reductions because there was no new wood supply source established.

–        The establishment of biomass plantations on grassland can result in considerable shifts of pre-project activities which are not adequately addressed in the methodology. For instance the shift of grazing can result in deforestation of other land. This on the other hand can lead to displacement of communities and other severe social consequences.

–        The methodology is inconsistent with similar approved methodologies, in particular with regard to the estimation of upstream emissions.

Action to be taken by the Board: The Board should request the Meth Panel to further work on the methodology to address the issues raised in the last CDM Watch newsletter for the 47th EB meeting.

Author

Related posts

Carbon Market Watch welcomes EU ban on “carbon neutrality” greenwashing

Companies selling in the European Union will no longer be able to claim that their products are carbon or climate neutral, the EU has provisionally agreed. This victory against greenwashing corresponds to longstanding demands from climate campaigners to eliminate the use of offsets and send a signal to the voluntary carbon market.

Integrity Council’s rulebook sets minimum threshold instead of high bar for carbon markets

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s latest guidelines provide a set of much-needed incremental improvements but fail to raise the quality of carbon credits sufficiently and leave too much wiggle room to truly tackle the climate crisis. The ICVCM has the opportunity to clear up the loopholes and ambiguities when it issues its first assessments of carbon market programmes.

Key items unaddressed in new methodology for biomass plantations on land areas (Newsletter #2)

Join our mailing list

Stay in touch and receive our monthly newsletter, campaign updates, event invites and more.