Feasibility study on peatland certificates and compensation measures (CO2-Regio)
Abstract
The feasibility study CO2-regio investigated which climate protection measures could be included in a regional certificate system and how this would have to be implemented. To this end, it was first necessary to clarify which of the five measures investigated were suitable for certification in the first place (module 1), what land potential there was for them in the study area (module 2), and how a regional certificate system would have to be structured organizationally (module 3).In module 1, the measures afforestation, humus build-up, agroforestry, biochar production and peatland protection were examined for their suitability for certification. Within the area of peatland protection, a differentiation was made between water level elevation in grassland, renaturation and conversion to paludiculture. Based on the first draft of peatland certificates, moorbenefits, a list of criteria was developed that must be met in order to generate carbon certificates with integrity that can be shown to contribute to climate change mitigation. The list of criteria was compared with international standards, such as the VCM and the Gold Standard, brought up to date with the current state of political discussion, and at the same time tailored to the regional character of CO2-regio. Subsequently, the five measures were evaluated with regard to their certifiability. The generation of CO2 emission certificates via humus growth to compensate greenhouse gas emissions is not supported. The main reasons are the lack of permanence, complex and thus expensive quantification, and the low maximum possible amount of savings. Emission certificates as a support instrument for agroforestry systems should also be discouraged. However, this is not due to qualitative deficiencies, but to the small amount of savings that can be certified. The establishment of agroforestry systems should rather be seen as climate change adaptation than as a climate protection measure. With about 10 t CO2-eq ha-1 a-1 certifiable savings, certification of afforestation is after possible, but less attractive than in peatland protection. The instrument of CO2-certificates can be seen as absolutely promising and technically well implementable in the field of peatland protection. The greatest savings are achieved here in the establishment of paludiculture on previously highly emitting arable land, since in paludiculture with optimal water level even not only CO2 emissions can be avoided, but carbon can be actively incorporated in the root system of the plants. Thus, up to 50 tons of CO2 eq ha-1 a-1 savings can be generated. Plant carbon credits are judged to be feasible, attractive, and meaningful if used properly. They differ from the other measures in that they are product storage, not climate mitigation on the land.
The study area comprises the districts of Aichach-Friedberg, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm and the city of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany. In the course of module 2, only area potentials for the measures were created that can be represented in the area reference (no Biochar) and are basically suitable for certification (non humus built-up). For this purpose, the area was classified into one of 4 categories (from suitable to exclusion). The basis is spatial planning, nature conservation and other criteria. Thus, area potentials were determined in map and table form for the measures wet grassland, renaturation, paludiculture, afforestation and agroforestry. For each of these measures, areas were found to be suitable. Thus, there is potential for implementation.
Since peatland protection turned out to be the most attractive climate protection measure with land potential in the study area, an organizational model with all institutions involved was created in module 3 as an example for peatland protection measures. In addition to the Klimabüro (“climate office”), which is to be founded, the Peatland Science Centre is also involved, which will provide scientific support.
Background and motivation
Climate protection is, despite the current Corona crisis, one of the central challenges for the future. All areas of society are affected to a greater or lesser extent by climate change and can contribute to climate protection and adaptation. In addition to the development of general governmental conditions for political measures, however, private-sector and municipal commitment is also required.
Increasingly, therefore, concepts are in demand as to how regional CO2 compensation can be implemented. Within the framework of the program "CO2-regio", the development of a certificate system and the examination of the associated compensation measures are to be prepared in the form of a feasibility study. The aim of the contribution is, among other things, to critically assess the state of knowledge, to prepare it for the framework of the "CO2-regio" program and to develop a certificate solution that is resilient according to international criteria.
Objectives
As a result, a catalog of measures will be developed, which allows a site-specific decision support between measures and their implementation, as well as an assessment of their feasibility. Furthermore, an assessment of the existing potential within the study area will be carried out and a tool for the identification of suitable areas will be developed. Finally, a regional certification concept will be developed, which can prove the climate impact of the measures. The feasibility study was conducted in an open-ended manner.
Procedure
The following five modules were worked on in the project:
1. Comparison of measures
Comparison of different climate protection-oriented uses, such as peatland protection, humus build-up, afforestation with regard to several criteria (greenhouse gas balance per hectare by measure, assessment of suitability of measures for certification, synergies and conflicts with other protected goods and measures, costs, legal and political framework conditions)
2. Potential of measures in spatial terms
Identification and scientific monitoring of pilot areas, total area and savings potential in the study area, overall assessment
2. Certification system
Presentation of the status and scope of certificate solutions, compilation and critical consideration of criteria, development of an organizational model for a regional certificate
4. Coordination of interim results
In order to coordinate the interim results with the clients, regular meetings (approx. every 4 months) were held during the course of the feasibility study.
Final5. ussvorstellung in den LAG Regionen
The results of the feasibility study were presented in the participating LAG regions during final workshops.
Results
Climate protection is one of the central challenges of our time, the implementation of which requires not only a national framework but also private-sector and municipal commitment. CO2 certificates from land-use-based measures can provide additional climate protection. The CO2-regio feasibility study therefore investigated which climate protection measures could be included in a regional certificate system and how. To this end, it was first necessary to clarify which of the five measures investigated were suitable for certification at all (Module 1), what land potential there is for them in the study area (Module 2), and how a regional certificate system would have to be structured organizationally (Module 3). In the parallel project "Moorbenefits 2.0", a Bavaria-wide methodology for moorland certificates is being developed to complement this.
Application areas
In climate protection, certificates can represent one instrument from a broad spectrum of different measures. They are intended to generate private funds for climate protection in addition to existing government efforts. Regional certification systems offer the advantage that donors and projects are usually located in the same region. This means that buyers of voluntary certificates can see for themselves what happens to their money, which ensures a high level of transparency. In addition, all positive co-benefits, e.g. for biodiversity or regional development, have a positive impact locally. This makes the quality of regional certificates higher and makes them particularly attractive on the voluntary market.
Views
With the CO2-regio project, a regional certificate system has been developed in the Bavarian Danube Moss region, which initially focuses primarily on peatland certificates. This can lower the hurdles for a conversion to peatland-compatible land management by rewarding the climate protection performance on the land. With the start of the certification process, CO2 certificates can be offered here as a supplement to other support programs as another solution.
Partners
Adressierte SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
