Advice to the UN-FCCC Contracting Parties for COP 14 in Poznan
Global emissions from loss of organic peat soils amount more than 3000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (Mt/CO2) per year; around 10% of all global anthropogenic emissions. These emissions from peat soil loss are currently not accounted under the Kyoto Protocol; just reported[1]. Preventing emissions from drained and degraded peat soils in non-Annex 1 is not currently eligible under CDM. The Bali Action Plan allows to address the large soil carbon emissions.
Although peatland issues have been highlighted by many countries at SBSTA, AWG-KP and AWG-LCA more effort is needed to include peatlands in key decisions.
We call for:
- Mandatory (net-net) accounting of peatland emissions under the Kyoto second commitment period
- Options for developed countries to reduce emissions by addressing peatland degradation in developing countries
- For any REDD policy: inclusion of soil-carbon but also of deforested peatlands
Guidance for the relevant Poznan meetings:
AWG-KP: Status of LULUCF emissions in 2nd commitment period
Under point 3 b) on the agenda, Parties will discuss the status of LULUCF emissions in the 2nd commitment period (Agenda item 17). Discussion is about the 4 options in the AWG LULUCF document 2008/L.11, 27-08-08.
The most effective incentive to target emissions from LULUCF (incl. peat) can be provided by option 4 in this document: the land based approach. This will lead to full accounting of the LULUCF (incl. peat) emissions, inclusion of all greenhouse gas emissions and removals for accounting with 1990 as base year.
A second best would be option 3 (forward looking baseline for article 3.4) with the choice under ‘Other issues’ to make accounting for all activities under 3.4 compulsory.
The emissions from extracted peatlands will in this approach be treated among the other LULUCF emissions and similarly to current industrial emissions. That should be guaranteed by full implementation of the Revised 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Green House Gases inventories for the inventory of LULUCF emissions for consideration under KP in the 2nd commitment period.
SBSTA: methodological decision on REDD
Point 5 on the SBSTA agenda is to discuss the decision on “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries: approaches to stimulate action”. In line with article 7 and 8 of this decision SBSTA will discuss methodological issues to assess forest cover and associated carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions.
Contracting parties are urged to incorporate all five carbon pools named by IPCC[2] to calculate Land Use and Forestry emissions, including soil carbon[3]. This will enable appropriate incentives for maintaining forests with high soil carbon stocks such as peatlands while not disadvantaging those with other forest types.
AWG-LCA: include ending peatland emissions under REDD
Point 3 b) on the LCA agenda is to discuss national and international mitigation.
Wetlands International urges the Contracting Parties to work on options under the Bali Action Plan:
- Regarding b) ii ‘mitigation in developing countries, supported by technology, financing and capacity building’, to include projects that end or prevent the predictable emissions from peatland loss (drained areas), to be supported by developed countries.
- Regarding point b) iii dealing with REDD:
- To use the IPCC five carbon pools to determine stocks and losses for forests,
- To include areas deforested since 1990 with still substantial carbon stocks for REDD activities
Download policy brief in pdf (english), spanish version.
More information: Wetlands International, Alex Kaat
Mail to: alex.kaat@wetlands.org
Phone: +31 (0)6 50601917