Natural climate solutions are being criticized - 3 requirements to do it right and make lasting positive impact

As the world is experiencing more and more extreme weather events, from collapsing glaciers to early-season heatwaves and floodings, the need for immediate and adequate climate action has never been greater. It’s hopeful to observe that the public discourse is turning away from ‘if’ and ‘why’ to ‘how’ and ‘what’ to address this. At the same time, it’s worrying that there is a lot of or-or thinking and debating going on. More renewables or more natural gas and nuclear. More technological innovation or more use of nature-based solutions. More behavioral change or more ways to offset emissions. Etc. etc.

Decade to Deliver

The reality of the matter is we need and-and. If the world is to prevent runaway climate change, we need to keep the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere below 450ppm (parts per million) on the short term and bring it back to 350ppm in the long term. As I’m writing this, actual CO2-levels are at 420ppm, still increasing every year by about 4ppm despite all the accords, pledges and agreements. This means that at the current rate we’ll hit the ceiling around 2030. That’s why our time is often called the Decade to deliver. It’s all-hands on deck and or-or thinking is a luxury we can no longer afford.

Natural Climate Solutions

One of the most cost-effective ways to mitigate our GHG-emissions that has an immediate and direct effect on the atmosphere are Natural Climate Solutions. These range from halting deforestation (REDD), Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and re- and afforestation, to better soil management, and maintaining water tables in wet- and peatlands. A couple of numbers to understand the magnitude:

-       Deforestation accounts for more than 10% of annual global GHG-emissions

-       Less than 20% of the world’s forests are protected

-       Natural Climate Solutions can deliver more than 30% of the emission reductions needed by 2030

This means our climate can never stay within its safe operating space without ending deforestation and making use of Natural Climate Solutions.

Multiple benefits

Forests not only benefits our climate. They are also crucial for the Earth’s biodiversity. Especially the tropical forests; they are home to about 80% of the world’s documented species. And forests provide food, medicine and a living for the local communities that inhabit them. In addition, forests provide ecosystem services; they filter water, create soil, clean the air and create weather patterns that deliver rain. All things that are crucial for human existence.

The critics are right

There is criticism on the use of Natural Climate Solutions. Especially the use of carbon credits to offset an entities (individual, company, country) CO2-emissions via forest projects is heavily debated. The main concerns raised are;

-       Offsetting is greenwashing; all efforts should be focused on emissions reductions

-       CO2 uptake capabilities of Natural Climate Solutions are overrated

-       There’s no long-term guarantee a forest will not be felled or destroyed by wildfires

-       These projects lead to land grabbing and mono-culture tree plantations for the benefit of entities in the global North

And the critics have a point. There are companies that do not take enough own action and use the purchase of carbon credits as an indulgence note. And the quality of the carbon credits – both the technical calculations as the long-term permanence – are not yet fully waterproof. And maybe the worst of all, there have been cases in which local communities and wildlife pay the highest price for our desire to plant or maintain a forest to offset CO2 emissions.

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

The development of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) – and that of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in particular – has been a steep learning curve. And it’s not yet at a waterproof level. There a currently many efforts underway to ensure the quality of the projects, transactions and businesses involved meet the standards society requires. One such initiative is the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative which is developing a Claims Code of Practice to guide credible, voluntary use of carbon credits and associated claims. Another initiative is the Tropical Forest Credit Integrity guide that provides support for companies seeking to purchase high-quality carbon credits.

As stated before, NCS is not yet waterproof. It is however maturing fast and as it is potentially a third of the climate solution, we need to support it where possible. Just make sure you do everything that is in your power to do it right.

3 requirements to do it right and make positive impact

When brought back to its basics, NCS are pretty straightforward: you have residual GHG-emissions to want to mitigate; you invest in for instance a tropical forest, so trees are either planted, better management and/or not felled. As trees grow, they take CO2 out of the atmosphere and because you made it possible you can claim net zero as a company. As straightforward as it may seem, there are three things to take into account.

1.    As a company that wants to offset it’s GHG emissions, you need to ensure that you have done everything in your power to reduce your emissions before thinking about offsetting. And be transparent about how you came to that conclusion. The purchase of carbon credits should only be done for residual emissions, or if you want to move above and beyond what is required of you in a 2 degrees scenario. The Science Based Target initiative is a way to ensure you are on the right track.

2.    The technical quality of the project should be of the highest standard. This means amongst others that;

a.    The right certification systems are in place (VCS, FSC, etc.)

b.    The contract has clear statements of additionality and permanence

c.     There is a CO2 uptake margin for occasional forest damage because of for instance wildfire

d.    The legal aspects are undisputed and transparent;

             i.    The ownership of the forest is undisputed (all permits are in place)

             ii.    Local communities are engaged in the process and benefit from it

             iii.    There is no double counting; any transferred carbon credit is not also retired in the country of origin as part of their Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement

3.    A well setup forest carbon project ensures there are multiple benefits and that these strengthen each other and the interests of all stakeholders involved;

a.    Hundreds of straight lines of the same tree are not the same as a forest. A forest should be diverse and follows natural ecosystem principles. Ideally integrated in a landscape approach

b.    The biodiversity must be enhanced due to proper management

c.     The local communities play an active role in the project and benefit from it

d.    Margins made by project developers and carbon traders should be transparent and decent; the majority of the financial flow needs to go the project and local communities

A way to ensure these points is through Verra’s CCB verification.

Act now

There is no perfect solution to the climate crisis. We need to ensure we do everything in our power NOW, to stay within the 350-450ppm window. No or-or, but and-and. As stated before Natural Climate Solutions can play an direct, scalable and affordable role in this. Not instead of reducing emissions, but on top of.

And in case you do not care about the climate, safeguarding tropical forests also greatly benefits wildlife, local communities, minimizes the risk of global pandemics from zoonoses and supplies you the oxygen you need to live. So there is absolutely no reason what so ever not to join in!