NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has agreed to formally associate itself with the climate accord struck in Copenhagen last year, one of the last major emitters to do so, the environment minister said in a statement to parliament.
"After careful consideration, India has agreed to such a listing," Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday, referring to India's decision to formally join the more than 100 countries that have chosen to associate themselves with the non-binding Accord.
India's decision leaves China, the world's top greenhouse gas emitter, as the only nation among the "BASIC" group of big developing countries to hold off from associating with the political agreement.
The step is likely to be a small boost for the troubled Accord, which many greens say was a bare-minimum outcome from a summit originally intended to agree on the shape of a broader, tougher legally binding pact to fight climate change.
The BASIC group of nations -- China, India, South Africa and Brazil -- joined the United States, EU and a small number of other countries at the end of the Copenhagen summit to agree on the Accord.
It was meant to be formally adopted by all nations at the conference but last-minute objections by a small number of countries meant the agreement was merely noted. In a compromise, it was decided nations wishing to associate themselves with it would be added to a list later on.
But BASIC nations, and particularly China, India and Brazil, feared a ringing endorsement of the Accord could detract from the 1992 U.N. Climate Convention, which says rich nations must lead action to slow global warming.
They have also made clear their view that the Accord should not become the basis of a new legally binding climate treaty and that the existing U.N. talks looking to agree on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol was the main way forward.
The Copenhagen Accord sets a non-binding goal of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times and a goal of $100 billion in aid from 2020.
marți, 9 martie 2010
vineri, 5 martie 2010
Ruling kills Romanian OTC carbon permit trading
By Luiza Ilie and Michael Szabo
BUCHREST/LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Romania's securities regulator have defined European Union carbon permits as financial instruments, a move which will force all its emissions trading onto one of the country's exchanges.
Emissions traders in eastern Europe said the unilateral ruling on Tuesday is possibly illegal and effectively kills off Romania's over-the-carbon (OTC) permit trading market under the EU's $100 billion emissions trading scheme.
Under the scheme, polluting companies receive greenhouse gas emission permits, called EU Allowances (EUAs), which can be freely traded with other firms, including utilities and banks, in other EU member states.
As the European market is still very fragmented with up to 10 different exchanges trading EUAs, the OTC market, composed of traders and brokers scattered across the EU's 27 member states, makes up a significant portion of trade.
The ruling prevents foreign firms from trading Romanian EUAs without joining the Sibiu Monetary-Financial and Commodities Exchange (SIBEX), currently the only Romanian exchange licensed to trade EUAs, the exchange's deputy director told Reuters.
"Foreign traders can no longer intermediate in Romania with such certificates unless they become members of the markets that can trade, meaning SIBEX at the moment," said Darius Cipariu.
"As securities, they are brought on a transparent, organised market where quotations are visible for all participants ... there are no more OTC transactions," he added.
SIBEX currently boasts just 38 authorised members.
"The Commission was aware that this step might be taken, but the Commission was not consulted on any details," a European Commission press officer said.
"As we are not aware of the details, it is too early yet to comment on the lawfulness or scope of the measure."
LEGAL PROVISIONS
Romania's National Securities Commission have classified carbon credits as securities and said legal provisions under the country's capital markets now apply to any firm trading EUAs.
The commission limits trading in capital market to "financial investment firms authorised by the National Securities Commission, lending institutions authorised by the Romanian Central Bank ... as well as similar entities authorised in EU and non-EU member states."
Romania will issue its 2010 quota of over 70 million EUAs to industry on Friday, a trader said, but the ruling prohibits any unregulated Romanian firm not allocated EUAs under the EU scheme from trading them.
"It's disgraceful that this was not discussed with industry," said James Atkins, chairman of Budapest-based Vertis Environmental Finance. "We've submitted a complaint to the Romanian courts as this appears to break a number of laws."
EUA futures, the staple of the EU market, are already considered financial instruments throughout Europe while EUAs traded on the spot market are normally considered ordinary goods that command value-added tax (VAT) when traded.
SIBEX's Cipariu said the ruling reduces the threat of VAT fraud, a scam that Europol said cost the EU 5 billion euros in lost tax revenues last year. [ID:nGEE5B908C]
"(EUAs) are now exempt from VAT. This facilitates transactions between Romanian operators and transactions with foreign partners," he said. (Additional reporting by Nina Chestney in London; editing by James Jukwey)
BUCHREST/LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Romania's securities regulator have defined European Union carbon permits as financial instruments, a move which will force all its emissions trading onto one of the country's exchanges.
Emissions traders in eastern Europe said the unilateral ruling on Tuesday is possibly illegal and effectively kills off Romania's over-the-carbon (OTC) permit trading market under the EU's $100 billion emissions trading scheme.
Under the scheme, polluting companies receive greenhouse gas emission permits, called EU Allowances (EUAs), which can be freely traded with other firms, including utilities and banks, in other EU member states.
As the European market is still very fragmented with up to 10 different exchanges trading EUAs, the OTC market, composed of traders and brokers scattered across the EU's 27 member states, makes up a significant portion of trade.
The ruling prevents foreign firms from trading Romanian EUAs without joining the Sibiu Monetary-Financial and Commodities Exchange (SIBEX), currently the only Romanian exchange licensed to trade EUAs, the exchange's deputy director told Reuters.
"Foreign traders can no longer intermediate in Romania with such certificates unless they become members of the markets that can trade, meaning SIBEX at the moment," said Darius Cipariu.
"As securities, they are brought on a transparent, organised market where quotations are visible for all participants ... there are no more OTC transactions," he added.
SIBEX currently boasts just 38 authorised members.
"The Commission was aware that this step might be taken, but the Commission was not consulted on any details," a European Commission press officer said.
"As we are not aware of the details, it is too early yet to comment on the lawfulness or scope of the measure."
LEGAL PROVISIONS
Romania's National Securities Commission have classified carbon credits as securities and said legal provisions under the country's capital markets now apply to any firm trading EUAs.
The commission limits trading in capital market to "financial investment firms authorised by the National Securities Commission, lending institutions authorised by the Romanian Central Bank ... as well as similar entities authorised in EU and non-EU member states."
Romania will issue its 2010 quota of over 70 million EUAs to industry on Friday, a trader said, but the ruling prohibits any unregulated Romanian firm not allocated EUAs under the EU scheme from trading them.
"It's disgraceful that this was not discussed with industry," said James Atkins, chairman of Budapest-based Vertis Environmental Finance. "We've submitted a complaint to the Romanian courts as this appears to break a number of laws."
EUA futures, the staple of the EU market, are already considered financial instruments throughout Europe while EUAs traded on the spot market are normally considered ordinary goods that command value-added tax (VAT) when traded.
SIBEX's Cipariu said the ruling reduces the threat of VAT fraud, a scam that Europol said cost the EU 5 billion euros in lost tax revenues last year. [ID:nGEE5B908C]
"(EUAs) are now exempt from VAT. This facilitates transactions between Romanian operators and transactions with foreign partners," he said. (Additional reporting by Nina Chestney in London; editing by James Jukwey)
joi, 25 februarie 2010
Parlamentul European vrea achizitii publice mai verzi
Comisia pentru Comert International a Parlamentului European (INTA) a votat un document care specifica noi directii in achizitiile publice, mai exact intarirea mecanismelor impotriva coruptiei si folosirea lor pentru promovarea dezvoltarii durabile.
Amendamentele au fost propuse de grupul socialistilor si democratilor din PE, reprezentat de Sabin Cutas, care a insistat asupra achizitiilor publice verzi, care sa tina cont de mediu si de drepturile omului.
„Comisia Europeana trebuie sa urmareasca promovarea transparentei si includerea dimensiunilor sociale si de mediu in cadrul acordurilor pe care le incheie cu partenerii sai comerciali. Uniunea ar contribui astfel la dezvoltarea administratiilor si economiilor tarilor partenere, urmarind totodata obiectivele de dezvoltare durabila", a declarat Sabin Cutas.
Achizitiile publice reprezinta 16% din PIB-ul UE, precum si un aspect major al comertului international.
Raportul "Noi evolutii in domeniul achizitiilor publice" va fi votat in comisia de fond, Comisia pentru piata interna si protectia consumatorilor (IMCO), in luna aprilie 2010, urmand ca votul din cadrul plenarei Parlamentului European sa aiba loc in luna mai 2010.
In urma cu o luna, ministrul mediului, Laszlo Borbely, a declarat ca institutiile publice vor fi obligate sa faca achizitii verzi. Ministrul a spus ca se pregateste un Plan National de Achizitii Publice Ecologice, prin care, de pilda, calculatoarele cumparate de institutiile publice vor indeplini cerinte verzi sau institutiile vor fi obligate sa foloseasca energii regenerabile.
Amendamentele au fost propuse de grupul socialistilor si democratilor din PE, reprezentat de Sabin Cutas, care a insistat asupra achizitiilor publice verzi, care sa tina cont de mediu si de drepturile omului.
„Comisia Europeana trebuie sa urmareasca promovarea transparentei si includerea dimensiunilor sociale si de mediu in cadrul acordurilor pe care le incheie cu partenerii sai comerciali. Uniunea ar contribui astfel la dezvoltarea administratiilor si economiilor tarilor partenere, urmarind totodata obiectivele de dezvoltare durabila", a declarat Sabin Cutas.
Achizitiile publice reprezinta 16% din PIB-ul UE, precum si un aspect major al comertului international.
Raportul "Noi evolutii in domeniul achizitiilor publice" va fi votat in comisia de fond, Comisia pentru piata interna si protectia consumatorilor (IMCO), in luna aprilie 2010, urmand ca votul din cadrul plenarei Parlamentului European sa aiba loc in luna mai 2010.
In urma cu o luna, ministrul mediului, Laszlo Borbely, a declarat ca institutiile publice vor fi obligate sa faca achizitii verzi. Ministrul a spus ca se pregateste un Plan National de Achizitii Publice Ecologice, prin care, de pilda, calculatoarele cumparate de institutiile publice vor indeplini cerinte verzi sau institutiile vor fi obligate sa foloseasca energii regenerabile.
marți, 23 februarie 2010
ISPE: Scutiri de impozit pentru cumpararea de certificate de carbon pentru Electra si Hidroenergetica
Ministerul Economiei trebuie sa aiba in vedere masura scutirii de impozit pe profit pentru profitul investit pentu achizitionarea de certificate de emisii de CO2, se arata intr-un studiu realizat de Institutul de Studii si Proiectari Energetice (ISPE), citat de Mediafax. Potrivit acestuia, Electra si Hidroenergetica vor face provizioane, in perioada 2010-2012, pentru a avea fonduri pentru tranzactii cu certificate de emisii de gaze cu efect de sera, iar Ministerul Economiei trebuie sa aiba in vedere facilitati fiscale pentru gestionarea acestor instrumente.
Potrivit planului national de alocare a certificatelor de emisii de gaze cu efect de sera, fiecare companie care face parte din cele doua societati nationale are un numar anual de certificate pentru perioada 2008-2012. Astfel, Electra are pentru intervalul 2008-2012 un numar de 73,2 milioane de certificate, din care in 2008 a consumat 25,7%, respectiv 18,8 milioane de unitati. Peste jumatate din capacitatea instalata a societatii nationale se afla in termocentrale, cele mai poluante instalatii de productie a energiei electrice.
Hidroenergetica a consumat in 2008 un numar de 8,9 milioane de certificate, echivalentul a 19,7% din totalul alocat de 45,1 milioane de unitati. Un procent de 60% din puterea instalata a acestei scoietati se afla in hidrocentrale, care produc o energie mai putin poluanta.
In ce priveste previziunile de producere a energiei, Electra ar urma sa produca dupa anul 2013 peste 28.000 GWh pe an, iar Hidroenergetica 24.000 GWh pe an, mentioneaza sursa citata.
Electra va fi formata prin fuziunea Complexurilor energetice Turceni, Rovinari si Craiova, Nuclearelectrica, doua sucursale ale Hidroelectrica si Societatea Nationala a Lignitului Oltenia.
Hidroenergetica va fi infiintata prin fuziunea filialelor Electrocentrale Deva si Electrocentrale Bucuresti din cadrul Termoelectrica si va avea in structura sucursala Paroseni si Termoserv Paroseni din Termoelectrica, filialele Hidroelectrica din Bistrita, Buzau, Cluj, Curtea de Arges, Hateg, Portile de Fier, Oradea, Sebes si Slatina, precum si parti din Compania Nationala a Huilei.
Mittal Steel Galati, cel mai mare poluator
Romania poate emite in perioada 2008-2012 o cantitate de 379,72 milioane de tone de dioxid de carbon, respectiv 379,72 milioane de certificate. In fiecare an Romania dispune de 75,94 milioane de certificate.
Cei mai mari poluatori din Romania sunt Mittal Steel Galati, care are alocate, in intervalul 2008-2012, aproximativ 71 de milioane de certificate, Complexul Energetic Turceni (34 milioane certificate), Complexul Energetic Rovinari (28 milioane certificate), Electrocentrale Deva (20 milioane certificate), Complexul Energetic Craiova (17 milioane certificate), Regia Autonoma pentru Activitati Nuclear - Sucursala Romag Termo (14 milioane certificate), Lafarge Ciment Medgidia 912,3 milioane certificate) si rafinaria Arpechim detinuta de OMV Petrom (9,6 milioane certificate).
Industria energetica are cel mai mare plafon alocat pentru perioada 2008-2012, respectiv 208,6 milioane de certificate, urmata de industria de productie si prelucare a metalelor feroase, cu 61,6 milioane, industria cimentului, cu 41,2 milioane si industria de rafinare a petrolului, cu 28,8 milioane de permise.
Plafonul european pentru perioada 2008-2012 este 2,08 miliarde tone de emisii anual.
Un certificat de emisii corespunde unei tone de dioxid de carbon, iar prin alocare se stabilesc limitele cantitatilor de dioxid de carbon pe care industriile au permisiunea sa le emita. Companiile vand si cumpara certificate de emisii in functie de indeplinirea tintelor de poluare. Alocarea certificatelor se face intr-o prima faza pe sectoarele de activitate din economie, apoi pe instalatiile care emit dioxid de carbon.
Potrivit planului national de alocare a certificatelor de emisii de gaze cu efect de sera, fiecare companie care face parte din cele doua societati nationale are un numar anual de certificate pentru perioada 2008-2012. Astfel, Electra are pentru intervalul 2008-2012 un numar de 73,2 milioane de certificate, din care in 2008 a consumat 25,7%, respectiv 18,8 milioane de unitati. Peste jumatate din capacitatea instalata a societatii nationale se afla in termocentrale, cele mai poluante instalatii de productie a energiei electrice.
Hidroenergetica a consumat in 2008 un numar de 8,9 milioane de certificate, echivalentul a 19,7% din totalul alocat de 45,1 milioane de unitati. Un procent de 60% din puterea instalata a acestei scoietati se afla in hidrocentrale, care produc o energie mai putin poluanta.
In ce priveste previziunile de producere a energiei, Electra ar urma sa produca dupa anul 2013 peste 28.000 GWh pe an, iar Hidroenergetica 24.000 GWh pe an, mentioneaza sursa citata.
Electra va fi formata prin fuziunea Complexurilor energetice Turceni, Rovinari si Craiova, Nuclearelectrica, doua sucursale ale Hidroelectrica si Societatea Nationala a Lignitului Oltenia.
Hidroenergetica va fi infiintata prin fuziunea filialelor Electrocentrale Deva si Electrocentrale Bucuresti din cadrul Termoelectrica si va avea in structura sucursala Paroseni si Termoserv Paroseni din Termoelectrica, filialele Hidroelectrica din Bistrita, Buzau, Cluj, Curtea de Arges, Hateg, Portile de Fier, Oradea, Sebes si Slatina, precum si parti din Compania Nationala a Huilei.
Mittal Steel Galati, cel mai mare poluator
Romania poate emite in perioada 2008-2012 o cantitate de 379,72 milioane de tone de dioxid de carbon, respectiv 379,72 milioane de certificate. In fiecare an Romania dispune de 75,94 milioane de certificate.
Cei mai mari poluatori din Romania sunt Mittal Steel Galati, care are alocate, in intervalul 2008-2012, aproximativ 71 de milioane de certificate, Complexul Energetic Turceni (34 milioane certificate), Complexul Energetic Rovinari (28 milioane certificate), Electrocentrale Deva (20 milioane certificate), Complexul Energetic Craiova (17 milioane certificate), Regia Autonoma pentru Activitati Nuclear - Sucursala Romag Termo (14 milioane certificate), Lafarge Ciment Medgidia 912,3 milioane certificate) si rafinaria Arpechim detinuta de OMV Petrom (9,6 milioane certificate).
Industria energetica are cel mai mare plafon alocat pentru perioada 2008-2012, respectiv 208,6 milioane de certificate, urmata de industria de productie si prelucare a metalelor feroase, cu 61,6 milioane, industria cimentului, cu 41,2 milioane si industria de rafinare a petrolului, cu 28,8 milioane de permise.
Plafonul european pentru perioada 2008-2012 este 2,08 miliarde tone de emisii anual.
Un certificat de emisii corespunde unei tone de dioxid de carbon, iar prin alocare se stabilesc limitele cantitatilor de dioxid de carbon pe care industriile au permisiunea sa le emita. Companiile vand si cumpara certificate de emisii in functie de indeplinirea tintelor de poluare. Alocarea certificatelor se face intr-o prima faza pe sectoarele de activitate din economie, apoi pe instalatiile care emit dioxid de carbon.
Motorola a lansat un telefon mobil eco
Producatorul american de telefoane mobile Motorola a lansat un telefon ecologic in cadrul Mobile World Congress 2010, informeaza Ecofriend.
Modelul se numeste A45Eco si este fabricat din sticle din plastic reciclate. Telefonul este dotat cu o camera foto de 2 megapixeli, Bluetooth, radio FM, music player si jocuri.
Primul telefon mobil prietenos cu mediul lansat de Motorola a fost modelul W233 Renew, fabricat tot din PET-uri reciclate, care a intrat pe piata la inceputul anului trecut.
Si Puma a prezentat un telefon mobil verde la Mobile World Congress 2010, care, pe langa ca este produs din materiale reciclabile, dispune si de un panou solar pentru a putea fi incarcat de la soare
Modelul se numeste A45Eco si este fabricat din sticle din plastic reciclate. Telefonul este dotat cu o camera foto de 2 megapixeli, Bluetooth, radio FM, music player si jocuri.
Primul telefon mobil prietenos cu mediul lansat de Motorola a fost modelul W233 Renew, fabricat tot din PET-uri reciclate, care a intrat pe piata la inceputul anului trecut.
Si Puma a prezentat un telefon mobil verde la Mobile World Congress 2010, care, pe langa ca este produs din materiale reciclabile, dispune si de un panou solar pentru a putea fi incarcat de la soare
miercuri, 10 februarie 2010
Cota actuala a certificatelor CO2 detinuta de Romania poate aduce in tara 1,2-1,5 miliarde de euro pana in 2012, a declarat recent intr-o conferinta d
Oficialul a precizat ca o hotararea de guvern care va legifera aceste tranzactionari va fi finalizata in curand, informeaza Agerpres.
Un numar tot mai mare de oameni de stiinta si de specialisti considera ca in Romania exista situri adecvate de stocare si ca singurul lucru care lipseste este vointa politica, pentru a asigura fondurile necesare stabilirii cu certitudine a siturilor unde CO2 poate fi depozitat.
Specialistii europeni au cazut de acord asupra faptului ca, pana in anul 2050, emisiile de gaze cu efect de sera (GES) trebuie sa fie reduse cu un procent de minimum 85%.
La inceputul lunii septembrie 2009, specialistii Bellona Europa, una dintre cele mai importante organizatii internationale neguvernamentale de mediu, au afirmat ca Romania detine un surplus de 200 milioane de certificate de emisii de bioxid de carbon (CO2), vanzarea acestuia putand aduce la bugetul de stat aproximativ doua miliarde de euro pana in anul 2015.
In urma Protocolului de la Kyoto, Romania are dreptul de a vinde acest surplus de certificate de CO2. Conform aceluiasi document, fiecare stat semnatar isi asuma obligatia sa nu depaseasca o anumita cantitate de emisii CO2 in perioada 2008-2012, diferenta fata de tinta fixata putand fi valorificata prin vanzarea de certificate catre alte tari care nu reusesc sa-si atinga tinta.
Romania, una dintre tarile care participa la sistemul european de tranzactionare a cotelor emisiilor de bioxid de carbon, in urma Protocolului de la Kyoto, s-a clasat, in 2008, pe locul noua in Uniunea Europeana, dupa cotele alocate, respectiv 70,65 milioane tone CO2 echivalent, potrivit datelor Comisiei Europene (CE). Emisiile de bioxid de carbon verificate ale Romaniei au scazut anul trecut cu 8,7% fata de 2007, la 63,5 milioane tone, iar numarul instalatiilor a urcat cu 3,3 procente, la 252.
A doua sesiune de tranzactionare a EU ETS a inceput la 1 ianuarie 2008 si va continua timp de cinci ani, pana la 31 decembrie 2012. In acest interval, tarile industrializate trebuie sa atinga tintele de emisii convenite prin Protocolul de la Kyoto. Incepand cu 1 ianuarie 2013, sistemul de tranzactionare a emisiilor va fi reformat in mod substantial.
Potrivit raportului CE, in 2008, cele mai multe alocari gratuite le-au primit Germania (388,7 milioane tone CO2 echivalent), Marea Britanie (213,5 milioane tone) si Italia (211,7 milioane tone), iar cele mai putine Malta (2,1 milioane tone), Luxemburg (2,5 milioane tone) si Letonia (2,9 milioane tone).
Vanzarea certificatelor de emisii de CO2 are loc pe burse, iar preturile variaza in functie de cerere si oferta. Cel mai mare pret a fost de peste 30 de euro pe tona, iar cel mai scazut, de jumatate de euro pe tona.
Un numar tot mai mare de oameni de stiinta si de specialisti considera ca in Romania exista situri adecvate de stocare si ca singurul lucru care lipseste este vointa politica, pentru a asigura fondurile necesare stabilirii cu certitudine a siturilor unde CO2 poate fi depozitat.
Specialistii europeni au cazut de acord asupra faptului ca, pana in anul 2050, emisiile de gaze cu efect de sera (GES) trebuie sa fie reduse cu un procent de minimum 85%.
La inceputul lunii septembrie 2009, specialistii Bellona Europa, una dintre cele mai importante organizatii internationale neguvernamentale de mediu, au afirmat ca Romania detine un surplus de 200 milioane de certificate de emisii de bioxid de carbon (CO2), vanzarea acestuia putand aduce la bugetul de stat aproximativ doua miliarde de euro pana in anul 2015.
In urma Protocolului de la Kyoto, Romania are dreptul de a vinde acest surplus de certificate de CO2. Conform aceluiasi document, fiecare stat semnatar isi asuma obligatia sa nu depaseasca o anumita cantitate de emisii CO2 in perioada 2008-2012, diferenta fata de tinta fixata putand fi valorificata prin vanzarea de certificate catre alte tari care nu reusesc sa-si atinga tinta.
Romania, una dintre tarile care participa la sistemul european de tranzactionare a cotelor emisiilor de bioxid de carbon, in urma Protocolului de la Kyoto, s-a clasat, in 2008, pe locul noua in Uniunea Europeana, dupa cotele alocate, respectiv 70,65 milioane tone CO2 echivalent, potrivit datelor Comisiei Europene (CE). Emisiile de bioxid de carbon verificate ale Romaniei au scazut anul trecut cu 8,7% fata de 2007, la 63,5 milioane tone, iar numarul instalatiilor a urcat cu 3,3 procente, la 252.
A doua sesiune de tranzactionare a EU ETS a inceput la 1 ianuarie 2008 si va continua timp de cinci ani, pana la 31 decembrie 2012. In acest interval, tarile industrializate trebuie sa atinga tintele de emisii convenite prin Protocolul de la Kyoto. Incepand cu 1 ianuarie 2013, sistemul de tranzactionare a emisiilor va fi reformat in mod substantial.
Potrivit raportului CE, in 2008, cele mai multe alocari gratuite le-au primit Germania (388,7 milioane tone CO2 echivalent), Marea Britanie (213,5 milioane tone) si Italia (211,7 milioane tone), iar cele mai putine Malta (2,1 milioane tone), Luxemburg (2,5 milioane tone) si Letonia (2,9 milioane tone).
Vanzarea certificatelor de emisii de CO2 are loc pe burse, iar preturile variaza in functie de cerere si oferta. Cel mai mare pret a fost de peste 30 de euro pe tona, iar cel mai scazut, de jumatate de euro pe tona.
miercuri, 3 februarie 2010
Deforestation and CO2 Emissions
Fire used to clear forests in Sumatra, Indonesia, for palm oil plantations © Greenpeace/Novis
Most CO2 emissions from deforestation stem from the destruction of tropical forests. While some forests are logged, many are simply burned to make room for industrial agriculture like cattle ranching and palm oil plantations – two leading causes of tropical deforestation. This burning emits massive amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Logging can also raise the risk of fire by drying out and heating up forests by removing trees that create shade and store moisture. In addition, logging activities – from the deliberate burning of leftover “slash,” to accidental sparks from machinery – increase unnatural fires and CO2 emissions.
As global warming leads to hotter, drier summers, northern forests like the Canadian Boreal may experience bigger, more frequent fires. The Boreal, which locks up billions of tons of carbon, is the single largest storehouse of carbon on land. If the Boreal burns, global warming could increase, raising the likelihood of more fires. This vicious cycle of CO2 emissions from forest fires and global warming has been called a ticking “carbon bomb.”
Most CO2 emissions from deforestation stem from the destruction of tropical forests. While some forests are logged, many are simply burned to make room for industrial agriculture like cattle ranching and palm oil plantations – two leading causes of tropical deforestation. This burning emits massive amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Logging can also raise the risk of fire by drying out and heating up forests by removing trees that create shade and store moisture. In addition, logging activities – from the deliberate burning of leftover “slash,” to accidental sparks from machinery – increase unnatural fires and CO2 emissions.
As global warming leads to hotter, drier summers, northern forests like the Canadian Boreal may experience bigger, more frequent fires. The Boreal, which locks up billions of tons of carbon, is the single largest storehouse of carbon on land. If the Boreal burns, global warming could increase, raising the likelihood of more fires. This vicious cycle of CO2 emissions from forest fires and global warming has been called a ticking “carbon bomb.”
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