Biotic carbon offset programs: sponsors of or impediment to economic development?

• Published in: Climate research Vol. 3; no. 1/2; pp. 129 - 136
• Main Authors: Trexler, Mark C., Meganck, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Inter-Research 1993
• Subjects: Agroforestry; Carbon offsets; Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Climate change policy; Economic development; Forest management; Forestry policy; Funding; SCIENCE AND POLICY INTERACTIONS; Sustainable forest management
• ISSN: 0936-577X; 1616-1572
• DOI: 10.3354/cr003129

The effects of a changing climate could fundamentally disrupt critical economic progress in many developing countries. Accelerated economic development activities are often discussed as a means to mitigate long-term climate change by altering energy and environmental infrastructures to promote improved energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts intended to mitigate climate change could spur economic development in many sectors. However, the link between potential climate change mitigation and economic development around the world is complex. Serious consideration must be given to assess the compatibility of climate change mitigation with economic development objectives. Biotic global warming mitigation measures (e.g. forest protection, reforestation, and biomass energy utilization) present a mixed picture from an economic development perspective. It has long been recognized that there is a great need for increases in investment to improve forest and resource management in developing nations; existing national and international funding does not adequately address the basic objective of sustainable productivity. Climate change mitigation is being increasingly perceived as a source of new funding for such programs. For example, if biotic mitigation mechanisms were employed to reduce or offset net global carbon emissions by 1 billion metric tons yr⁻¹ (about 15% of the current global total) an estimated US$5 to 10 billion could be spent annually, a significant increase in the context of current land-use and forest management expenditures in developing countries. Depending on how this money is spent, economic development prospects could be promoted or hindered.