How do forest climate projects save the planet?

It is not possible to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the climate only by reducing the carbon footprint. Industrial enterprises will still create it, albeit to a lesser extent than now. Forests that absorb CO₂ more efficiently and cheaper than industrial methods should help in its zeroing. In order to increase the amount of natural absorption, the process of creating forest climate projects (FCPs) was launched. The main thing you need to know about them is in our article, prepared based on Vedomosti materials.

What is paintwork and what are they for

A forest-climatic project is a project related to the forest complex. Its result is an increase in the absorption of greenhouse gases, which is expressed in verified carbon units (AU): 1 AU is equal to 1 ton of greenhouse gas reduction. At the beginning of 2023, more than 250 LCPs are being sold in the world, and this figure is constantly growing.

Carbon units are walking the planet

Projects for natural absorption of CO₂ for 2015 - 2019 allowed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the planet by about 350 million tons of CO₂-equivalent. The cost of UE varies greatly depending on the market - from $1 in China to $10 in the EU. The price of UE in Russia is currently 1000 rubles. (about $15).

Russia accounts for 20% of the world's forests, which absorb about 700 million tons of CO₂-equivalent per year. The strategy for the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation with low greenhouse gas emissions until 2050 provides for the absorption by forests and other natural ecosystems of up to 1200 million tons.

The opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint through paintwork attracts Russian companies, especially since many, including Rosneft, En+ Group, Tatneft, X5 Group and S7 Airlines, have adopted goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

International cooperation on carbon units

At the COP27 International Climate Summit in Egypt, our country held talks on the global recognition of UEs issued as a result of the implementation of domestic climate projects. The international status of Russian UEs can intensify work on the creation of a LCP in the Russian Federation - this will take about three years.

It is expected that in the near future in Russia there will be a national methodology and standards for the LKP, containing the methodology for planning and implementing such projects.

Ownership of carbon credits

The initiator of the LKP must have a guarantee that the EU received as a result of the project will be considered his property and he will be able to use them for himself or sell, transfer to third parties. Rosleskhoz believes that this measure will encourage businesses to invest in paintwork and is preparing amendments to the Forest Code and 296-FZ "On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions".

Rosleskhoz proposes a simpler and more flexible legal structure for the implementation of the LCP on the basis of an agreement to be concluded between the authorized authority and the project executing company with or without the provision of a forest plot.