ACTION ITEM: Forest Plantations May Speed up Global Warming
11/09/00
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY
by Forests.org
Many of the World's developed countries are shirking their responsibility to reduce carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto Agreement by attempting to claim credit for carbon stored in planted trees, thus allowing more emissions. Our scientific understanding of carbon sinks continues to grow, as major new studies indicate that plantation forestry, rather than mitigating climate change, may actually speed it up. Two studies published in the science journal Nature show that as temperatures rise, forests (particularly plantations) are likely to emit more CO2 into the atmosphere, leading to further warming of the climate. The conclusion is that planting trees to absorb CO2 in order to offset additional future emissions is full of uncertainty. Refraining from emitting carbon into the atmosphere in the first place is the only way to be certain atmospheric carbon dioxide does not rise unnecessarily. These findings come in addition to another recent study that showed that ancient old-growth forests are much more dependable carbon sinks than plantations, and even when fully mature continue to sequester additional large amounts of carbon in their soils for long periods of time.
Together, these findings of the uncertainty of plantation carbon sinks and the surety of ancient old-growth carbon storage, are dramatically at odds with the policy initiatives to be negotiated soon at the Hague climate conference. The United States, Canada, Australia, Russia and other countries are pressing at the Hague climate meeting to achieve as much as half of their greenhouse gas reductions not by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but by using "sinks" like planted forests to remove carbon dioxide. The proposal to allow carbon credits for tree planting is almost certain to accelerate the destruction of native forests - as is currently taking place in Tasmania, Australia (below). Thus, in essence the proposal is to eliminate sure and secure carbon storage ecosystems to replace them with plantations that may or may not hold carbon well.
This is a grossly irresponsible position in direct conflict with the best scientific knowledge currently available. Given an unwillingness to account for carbon sinks in a responsible and valid manner; such as giving credit solely for ancient forest protection and ensuring plantations do not replace these more dependable carbon stores, we here at Forests.org join Greenpeace and WWF in calling for carbon sinks to be excluded from the Kyoto treaty. It must be insisted that industrialized countries achieve their targets by cutting emissions.
Below is more information on the recent scientific findings. There is also a short piece that indicates that our worst fears regarding natural forests being cleared for plantations that as "carbon sinks" are to be considered credits, thus allowing more emissions, is coming to pass in Australia (not surprising given their government's well established cavalier and dismissive attitude towards the value of ancient forests and severity of climate change). Lastly, there is an Action Item requesting that you contact the American delegation soon to depart for the Hague to raise these points. You may also want to send an email from our web site to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC), which is responsible for the conference. You can let them know that Ancient Old-Growth Forests Make the Best Carbon Sinks at:
http://forests.org/emailaction/oldcarbon_oct_00.htm
or by emailing them directly at secretariat@unfccc.int .
g.b.
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
ITEM #1
Forests Could Speed Up Global Warming, Scientists Say
Reuters, Copyright 2000
November 8, 2000
Patricia Reaney
LONDON (Reuters) - Global warming could happen faster than scientists expect because forests, instead of mitigating climate change, could speed it up, researchers said Wednesday.
As environment ministers prepare for a major climate change conference in The Hague next week, scientists at Britain's Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research said planting forests to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and reduce global warming could be counterproductive.
Two studies published in the science journal Nature using computer models of global warming show that as temperatures rise, forests, or so-called carbon sinks, are likely to emit more CO2 into the atmosphere, leading to further warming of the climate.
``Our initial results suggest that vegetation and soils, which currently absorb about a quarter of human-made carbon dioxide emissions, could accelerate future climate change by releasing carbon to the atmosphere as the planet warms,'' said Dr Peter Cox.
The findings could have important implications for the Hague meeting because the use of carbon sinks is one of the key issues that will be debated at the two-week conference.
Ministers from around the world will try to seal an international agreement to cut emissions of CO2 by an average of five percent of 1990 levels by 2008-2012 in line with a treaty agreed in Kyoto, Japan in 1997.
The Kyoto treaty allows countries to plant forests to offset some of their CO2 emissions.
``All we can say... is that if you want to plant trees to absorb CO2 in order to offset additional future emissions there are a huge amount of uncertainties,'' Dr Geoff Jenkins, head of the Hadley climate change program, said in a telephone interview.
``On the other hand if you refrain from emitting carbon into the atmosphere you know where you are in terms of its effect on CO2. So there is a big difference in the uncertainty levels between those two courses of action,'' he added.
Charges Of Cheating
Environmental groups Greenpeace and WWF are calling for carbon sinks to be excluded from the Kyoto treaty. Both groups want industrialized countries to achieve their targets by cutting emissions.
``Claiming credit for carbon stored in trees is a blatant attempt by some countries to cheat on their Kyoto commitments,'' Bill Hare, Greenpeace International's Climate Policy Director, said in a statement.
The second study in Nature by Dr Richard Betts also showed that planting new forests in cold parts of the world like Siberia and Canada could be doing more harm than good.
This is because in northern countries, where the ground is covered in snow, forests absorb more of the sun's heat than the terrain. The additional exposure to the sun has a warming influence that could offset part of the cooling effect of the CO2 uptake.
Britain's Environment Minister Michael Meacher said the research highlighted the importance of the Hague conference and the difficult negotiations ministers will face.
``These results add weight to our view that we must achieve real emission reductions to meet Kyoto targets, and confirm our concerns about sinks. We must be cautious about them,'' he said in a statement.
Item #2
Environment groups criticise Tasmanian forestry practices
c 2000 ABC (Australia) November 8, 2000
Environment groups in Europe claim forestry practices in the Australian state of Tasmania have revealed a giant loophole in the proposed Kyoto protocol to reduce global warming.
Matt Peacock reports:
Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund say rather than helping the environment, the proposal under the Kyoto protocol to allow nations to claim credits for tree planting, may actually accelerate the destruction of native forests. And they are citing Tasmanian examples of Japanese power companies sponsoring the destruction of high conservation value native forests to be replaced by fast-growing plantations, which it's then intended would be claimed as carbon credits under the international treaty to be hammered out next week at the Hague. The United States, Australia and Japan are strongly in favour of the carbon trading system, which would allow countries to increase their atmospheric pollution provided they acquire sufficient credits.
ITEM #3
PRE-CLIMATE SUMMIT CALL-IN TOMORROW
American Lands Alliance
November 8, 2000
By Aaron Rappaport, American Lands Alliance
With the Presidential election still undecided, it's hard to believe that the climate summit in The Hague - the most important meeting for the world's climate since the Kyoto Protocol was written in 1997 - starts next Monday, but it does. Regardless of the political outcome on our shores, forest rules under the Protocol will be decided at The Hague and will have long-term and far-reaching consequences for management on forests all over the world, including on 500 million acres here in America. The U.S. is still clinging to an environmentally dangerous proposal for forest rules under the Protocol, which will be finalized at the summit.
The rules will govern how forests are used and credited for absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). Credited activities will likely receive significant financial incentives. The rules will also cover vast areas of land, 500 million acres of forests in the U.S. alone. Thus it is crucial that only activities that are good for climate, forests, and other native ecosystems receive credits.
Now, building on last week's call in day, conservationists need to take pressure on U.S. negotiators to the next level. Two steps are urgently needed:
A) Urgent calls to the Administration are needed tommorow(November 9) as a "send-off" as negotiators prepare to leave for The Hague.
B) Rapid response from forest activists throughout the summit's duration. We've done well with this in the Congress and with the WTO. Now, let's take it to international climate negotiations. To join the rapid response team contact Darcy Davis at 503-978-0132 or mailto:darcydavis@americanlands.org.
Tomorrow, please call Roger Ballentine, the Deputy Assistant to the resident for Environmental Initiatives, at 202/456-1782. When you call, please make the following points:
1) Forest rules under the Kyoto Protocol must protect and restore old-growth forests and other native ecosystems.
2) "Business-as-usual" forestry should not be credited because it does not reduce CO2 emissions.
3) Destructive activities such as tree plantations should not be credited. Doing so would create additional financial incentives for environmental harm.
If you prefer to send a letter by mail or fax Mr. Ballentine's contact information is: Mr. Roger Ballentine, Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Initiatives, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500; Fax: (202) 456-1736.
Public outcry has helped. In response, the Administration has conditionally rejected old-growth unfriendly carbon accounting promoted by the timber industry. However, the U.S. rules proposal would grant credits to current, business as usual forest activities, as well as to environmentally destructive forest activities such as the use of pesticides, herbicides, irrigation, and exotic and even genetically engineered trees. And, as allude to above, Administration support for old-growth protective carbon accounting is still uncertain. Moreover, the U.S. proposal currently makes this contingent upon "substantial" credit being received for business-as- usual forestry!
For more background on forest rules under the Kyoto Protocol, see www.americanlands.org/forestweb/factsheet.htm.
For more information please contact Darcy Davis or Aaron Rappaport of the American Lands Alliance. Darcy Davis 503/978-0132, mailto:darcydavis@americanlands.org. Aaron Rappaport 202/547-9098, mailto:arappaport@americanlands.org.
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
http://www.americanlands.org