Carbon cap and trade to reduce deforestation has been axed

Preserving the world's forests is crucial in the fight against climate change. Deforestation causes an estimated 20 per cent of the planet's global warming greenhouse gases to be emitted into the atmosphere as large areas of forest are cleared. Trees absorb carbon but when they rot or are burnt they release this back into the atmosphere. The US Climate Bill needs to take this into consideration, as deforestation is a big issue that needs to be resolved.

Douglas Boucher, chairman of the Tropical Forest and Climate Coalition, which consists of environmental groups, power utilities and other companies states, "Tropical deforestation is a major contributor to global warming. It contributes about 15 per cent of all greenhouse emissions according to most recent estimates". He believes that fighting deforestation is one of the most cost-effective ways of halting climate change and that the US climate bill needs to do more than it has proposed to make the most of this outlet.

The previous bill included a measure that would allow companies to donate 5 per cent of the total emissions allowance value in the domestic cap and trade market on smokestack emitters toward programs to reduce deforestation in developing countries. The new bill however proposes the removal of this part of the legislation meaning that less money would be contributed towards projects that are working towards protecting the world's forests and cutting down carbon emissions.

Boucher, thinks that," Unfortunately the Kerry-Lieberman bill ... cuts the heart out of some of the most positive features of the bill that passed the House". It is clear that this amendment may not be well received if the cap and trade system is removed as it is seen as a beneficial way of raising money for the deforestation cause. Environmental groups are especially critical as the new climate bill has allowed for offshore drilling despite the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill but failed to produce deforestation rules that reach far enough to make a difference.

The bill compiled by Waxman and Markey, passed in June 2009, has been hailed as the most ambitious and successful climate legislature to date. They allocated the 5 per cent emissions allowance for the protection of forests. Although the Kerry-Lieberman bill has the same targets for the prevention of deforestation and forest degradation it has devoted less money towards achieving its goals. There is some contention over whether the removal of the cap and trade measure will be detrimental to the work being done conserving forests.

Author: Rachael Bristow | Climate Action

Image: World Resources Institute Staff | flickr