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https://theconversation.com/a-tonne-of-fossil-carbon-isnt-the-same-as-a-tonne-of-new-trees-why-offsets-cant-save-us-200901>
"This week, the Albanese government is attempting to reform the safeguard
mechanism to try to make it actually cut emissions from our highest polluting
industrial facilities.
Experts and commentators see Labor’s plan as a cautious, incremental change
that doesn’t yet rise to the urgency of the intensifying climate crisis. But it
could generate momentum after a wasted decade of climate denial and delay under
the previous government. Done right, it could set our biggest industrial
polluters on a pathway to cut their emissions and be a springboard for more
ambitious changes.
But there’s one glaring problem. Under the government’s proposed rules, there
is still no requirement for polluters to actually cut their emissions at the
sites where they are released into the atmosphere. Instead, companies can
choose to buy carbon credits or offsets to meet their obligations. Incredibly,
there would be no limit on the number of offsets companies can use.
You’ve probably heard about Australia’s rubbery offset schemes and questions of
integrity. But there’s an even more fundamental problem. One tonne of carbon
dioxide pumped into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels is not the same as
one tonne of carbon stored in the tree trunks of a newly planted forest.
The carbon in coal, gas and oil has been safely stored underground for
extraordinary lengths of time. But when trees take carbon dioxide back out of
the atmosphere, they may only store it for a short period.
There is simply no way around it. Avoiding the worst of climate change means
stopping the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. Offsets will not save us.
In fact, unlimited use of offsets could see even more emissions, if coal and
gas companies “offset” emissions and ramp up exports."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
