Carbon Sequestration A Report to the Idaho Legislature

1
Carbon Sequestration - A Report to the Idaho
Legislature

• As directed by SB 1379
• New chapter 22-5106
• To be prepared by the Idaho Soil Conservation
  Commission

2
Global Warming Issue

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) concentrations are
  increasing in our atmosphere, which, seems to be
  causing increased global temperatures, climatic
  variability, changes in precipitation patterns
  and magnitudes.
• Three important GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2),
  nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4).
• Internationally, numerous industrial sources are
  contributing high quantities of GHGs.
• Some amount is also coming from landuse
  activities.

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
Global Warming Issue

• Greenhouse Gas Impacts
• Sea levels raising by 15 centimeters by year
  2050, 34 centimeters by 2100,
• Loss of coastal dry land due to rising ocean
  levels
• Loss of wetland, wildlife habitat,
• Increased coastal erosion, flooding,
• Increased salinity of rivers, bays and aquifers,
• Impact sewage disposal capabilities along coastal
  areas,
• Affect drinking water aquifers along coastal
  areas
• Increased precipitation and evaporation, altering
  existing local climates,
• Decline of freshwater quantities,
• Wetter winter, drier summers, increase frequency
  of intense rainstorms,
• Insufficient water for navigation lower
  production of hydroelectric power impaired
  recreational opportunities along rivers and
  lakes,
• Poorer water quality and decreased availability
  of water for agriculture, residential, and
  industrial uses.,
• And so on

6
(No Transcript)
7
SCC Report to the Legislature

• Agriculture (cropland, forest, etc.) is not a
  large source of these GHGs, but has a great
  potential to offset CO2, N2O, and CH4. Thus..
• By February 1, 2003, the SCC is to prepare a
  report for the Legislature, which

8
SCC Report to the Legislature

• Describes the potential for carbon (GHG)
  market(s) in Idaho, where agricultural and forest
  lands are involved.
• Characterizes the agricultural forest BMPs
  which sequester carbon (other GHGs)
• Describes existing methods for measuring
  modeling carbon (GHG) sequestration (baseline
  quantification, cycling, etc.)
• Discusses any necessary legislation as related to
  private property rights and sequestration
  activities
• Identifies scientific uncertainty in quantifying
  sequestration (GHG emissions, etc.)
• Discusses other committee recommendations.

9
Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee
The committee created by SB 1379, to consist of
16 members

• Chairman or designee of ISCC
• Director or designee of ISDA
• Director or designee of DEQ
• Director or designee of IDL
• Representative of U of I
• Representative of electrical producer
• 2 Representatives of crop producers
• 2 Representatives of livestock producers
• Representative of carbon sequestration expert

• Representative of Soil Conservation Districts
• Representative of biofuels industry
• Representative of transportation industry
• Representative of environmental organization
• Representative of nonindustrial private forest
  landowner

10
Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee

• Advise and assist the SCC in preparing the
  report(s)
• Recommend policies/programs to enhance
  agriculture and nonindustrial private forest
  landowners participation in carbon markets
• Recommend and encourage the production of
  educational and advisory material regarding
  carbon sequestration ( other GHGs) on
  agricultural and forest lands

11
Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee

• Recommend carbon (GHG) related research
  activities
• Review carbon sequestration programs policies
  of other states.
• First Advisory Committee meeting in Moscow on
  July 9 10, at the Federal Building
• Advisory Committee meeting to coincide with IASCD
  annual meeting in Idaho Falls, November 13.
• Other meetings likely to occur in January/February

12
Potential Carbon Sequestration Practices

• Forest/Timber Practices
• New Forest Plantings Convert back to Timber
• Improved Forest management
• Plantations Hybrid poplars, etc.
• Cropland Practices
• Residue Management No-till, etc.
• Land Conversion Crop to pasture, Hay Land, etc.
• Agroforesty Buffers strips, hybrid poplars

13
Potential Carbon Sequestration Practices

• Riparian/Rangeland Practices
• Resource Management Crossing thresholds
  (bluegrass to willows, cheatgrass to
  sage/grass/forbs community, etc.
• Other Farm, Ranch, Forest Related Greenhouse Gas
  Reductions (GHG)
• Livestock methane reductions
• Fuel use reduction through alternative cropping
  system reduced-till, etc.
• Newly constructed wetlands, existing wetland
  restoration
• Biofuel production Ethanol from corn,
  biodiesel,
• Electric generation Animal wastes, grasses,
  trees, etc.

14
Carbon Sequestration in General

• IMPORTANT!
• There must be a net GHG reduction (expressed in
  Carbon Equivalents). There is some concern that,
  for example, increasing nitrogen water to
  increase carbon fixing (sequestration) may cause
  a net increase of GHG losses, such as N2O.
• Whether or not global warming is actually
  occurring because of increased GHG emissions,
  there are benefits of applying practices that
  have multiple benefits to Idahos natural
  resources.
• In summary
• How can farm, ranch, forest landowners/managers
  and the Idaho public benefit from a carbon (GHG)
  market that pays for the installation and
  maintenance of practices on private lands?
• What are the risks involved with entering into
  long-term contracts with an industry seeking to
  offset GHG emissions?

15
Greenhouse Gas Emission Carbon Sequestration
Activities

• Villach and Bellagio Workshops - assessed the
  role of carbon dioxide
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete
  the Ozone Layer - 47 nations reached agreement on
  a set of CFC control measures in September 1987.
• Toronto Conference - focused on the implications
  of climate change for world security
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -
  was formed in 1988 to conduct studies on global
  warming.
• The International Geosphere/Biosphere Program -
  facilitate understanding the present state of the
  earth and the potential impacts of global climate
  change.
• Nordwijk Conference on Atmospheric Pollution and
  Climate Change - encouraged the IPCC to include
  in its First Assessment Report an analysis of
  quantitative targets to limit or reduce CO2
  emissions, and urged all industrialized countries
  to investigate the feasibility of achieving such
  targets
• Hague Declaration - This conference and
  Declaration (signed by 23 nations) established
  support for new principles of international law.

16
Greenhouse Gas Emission Carbon Sequestration
Activities

• Cairo Compact - calls on affluent nations to
  provide developing countries with the technical
  and financial assistance to address global
  climate change.
• United Nations World Climate Conference The IPCC
  reported the findings of the IPCC Working Groups
  to the United Nations (Scientific Assessment,
  Impacts Assessment, and Response).
• Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) -
  the U.N. General Assembly established the INC to
  prepare an effective framework convention on
  climate change
• United Nations Conference on Environment and
  Development (UNCED) - On June 12, 1992 signed
  the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate
  Change... commits the world's governments to
  voluntary reductions of greenhouse gases
• Bilateral Sustainable Development Accord Between
  Costa Rica and the U.S. - the U.S. and Costa Rica
  signed a bilateral accord intended to facilitate
  developing joint implementation projects.
• 1995 First Conference of the Parties (COP) -
  delegates agreed on a mandate to establish
  appropriate action for the period beyond the year
  2000More COPs have followed.

17
Greenhouse Gas Emission Carbon Sequestration
Activities
Types of State Programs Home Energy Rating
System Energy Efficiency Audits Energy-efficient
Mortgage Programs Model Energy Codes (MEC)
Tax Incentives for Fuel Switching,
Cogeneration Renewable Portfolio
Standards Emissions Trading Methane Reclamation
Programs

Source EPA
Recycling Programs State Alternative Fuel Fleets
Truck to Train Mode Shift Revenue Neutral Tax
Incentives Afforestation
18
Greenhouse Gas Emission Carbon Sequestration
Activities

• Portland, Oregon proposes to reduce carbon
  dioxide emissions from the Portland metropolitan
  area to 20 percent below the 1988 level by the
  year 2010.
• The Iowa State Energy Bureau's Building Energy
  Management Program promotes cost-effective energy
  management improvements in state buildings,
  schools, hospitals non-profit organizations, and
  local government facilities.
• In Minnesota, more stringent energy standards
  have been adopted for the new construction of
  residential dwellings and government offices.
• Oregon has increased the weatherization standards
  in the construction of low income homes.
• New York has recently established a
  public-private partnership to encourage and
  support schools in making their facilities more
  energy efficient (Energy Smart Schools).
• Colorado has established the Colorado Green
  Program, which assists builders and honors
  residents who construct homes that conserve
  natural resources and increase energy efficiency.
• Mecklenberg County, North Carolina all school
  buses have been converted to CNG vehicles.
• Maryland, the Department of Transportation has
  replaced its fleet of diesel fuel shuttle buses
  at BWI with 20 new CNG vehicles.

19
Greenhouse Gas Emission Carbon Sequestration
Activities

• The Georgia Governor's Office of Energy Resources
  is increasing energy and agricultural efficiency
  by facilitating six programs targeted to crop,
  poultry, and livestock producers. These programs
  conserve energy and save money in addition to
  reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has
  created a reforestation program designed to
  reduce heating and cooling needs with strategic
  landscaping, to arrest soil erosion, enhance
  natural water filtration, and remove carbon
  dioxide from the atmosphere. The program
  coordinator of this multifaceted project, called
  Operation TREE, must work to involve every
  division of the Department of Resources and
  encourage cooperation among other state agencies.
• The Alabama Broiler Litter Program, co-sponsored
  by the Science, Technology and Energy Division of
  the Alabama Department of Economic and Community
  Affairs and the USDA's Tennessee Valley Resource
  Conservation and Development Council, addresses
  energy conservation, reduces the landfill waste
  stream, promotes recycling, and improves
  agricultural productivity. In this program
  newspaper is shredded and blown over the poultry
  house floor, where it becomes matted and slick
  from droppings and moisture content. When the
  litter and paper is gathered from the floor, it
  is spread on crops as fertilizer, or is mixed
  with feed and is fed to livestock. The paper also
  acts as an insulator for the poultry house,
  thereby reducing energy needs.

20
Greenhouse Gas Emission Carbon Sequestration
Activities
Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association
Agreement (PNDSA) with ENTERGY Tramway Carbon
Sequestration and CRP Project Carbon Research
Activities at U of I, ARS, etc. INEEL GHG
Inventory Climate Coupled Energy
System Existing and Proposed Ethanol Plants in
Idaho J. R. Simplot Biofuels (Ethanol
Production) Others?