[Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle

[Duane Pendergast]

Kevin,

 

That aspect of carbon trading has bothered me for years. The nuclear and
wind industries, for example, have clamored to be paid for not creating
emissions for years. Perhaps it seems viable at the micro level, but if
there is not some kind of hard cap overall, then such schemes revert to a
variation of intensity based emission reduction schemes. They would tend to
reduce the rate of emission increase overall by favoring non emitting
industry.

 

The terra preta concept and other schemes which actually remove carbon from
the atmosphere seem to me to have far more merit in any system which
actually seeks to control atmospheric greenhouse gases. They should thus be
somehow given more credit than emission avoidance. I raised related points
in a submission to Environment Canada on a proposed "Offset System" in 2003
aimed at Canada's  Kyoto commitment before I became aware of the terra preta
concept. A short clip from the Introduction of my submission on Canada's
proposals follows.

 

"The terminology "Offsets" and, 'Offset Credits" are used often throughout
the report. There seems to be little distinction between so-called offsets
related to sinks and systems which actually remove emissions from the
atmosphere and those attributed to emissions reduction via efficiency,
modified or alternate technology. Some thought experimentation suggests
there is a big difference.   Workable emissions removals would actually
offset emissions in accordance with the basic definition of the word. On the
other hand the provision of offset credits for emission reduction
essentially provides for a license allowing more emissions from the capped
sectors which are not necessarily offset in the uncapped sectors. Micro
examples of two firms, one inside and one outside the capped sectors,
working together to hold emissions to a capped level are often cited. In the
macro world of a freely growing economy the illusion of capped control
provided by the simple examples will disappear."

 

The complete submission is at;

 

http://www.computare.org/Support%20documents/Fora%20Input/Offset%20Consultat
ion.htm

 

At that time I suggested the science and technology behind "emission
removals" was still not well enough known to establish a credit system and
that somehow credits should be used to establish a technology fund to
develop emission removal technology. Maybe someone was listening. The latest
greenhouse gas management plan from Canada's government does include a
scheme for industry to fund technology development, apparently in lieu of
buying credits.

 

Duane

 

-----Original Message-----
From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Chisholm
Sent: June 2, 2007 6:52 AM
To: Sean K. Barry
Cc: Christoph Steiner; terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle

 

Dear Sean

 

It appears to me that "Carbon Trading" is a mechanism whereby people who

want to add carbon to the Biosphere can pay a Broker to pay someone else

to not add carbon to the atmosphere, with the net effect that there is

no reduction to the carbon addition to the Biosphere.

 

Am I missing something?

 

Kevin

 

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