GHG calculation

46 As one of the main goals of this work is the calculation of the carbon credits eventually generated from a different crop management, the Carbon input to the soil must be converted in terms of CO2-eq with the following relationship:

CO_2−eq= C_is x 44 12

Where 44 and 12 are referred to the Carbon Dioxide molecular mass and the Carbon atomic mass, respectively.

Table 1: Comparison of some features of the presented Carbon sequestration methodologies.

In this work the choice is to use the methodology proposed by Winans et al. (2015) for the calculation of the carbon sequestration in the corn field, based on the previous Net Primary Productivity methodology proposed by Bolinder et al. (2007). From a comparison with other methodologies, briefly resumed in table 1, this choice relies on the criteria satisfied by the method, which are consistent with the goal of this work, based on: accuracy, comparability, consistency with easily accessible data, direct and simple estimation of the annual C inputs to the soil for use in simulations of the dynamics of soil C in response to crop type and management methods.

47 higher SOC content in the baseline may be due to anthropogenic activity or the makeup of the soils, such as the fact that they are organic soils (e.g. soils are not tilled and external organic matter is added as inputs). The approach has a wide range of applications aside from this restriction on the severity of soil disturbance in specific types of soils and land-use practises.

For instance, the land that will be replanted or afforested must not be degraded.

Small-scale afforestation and reforestation (A/R) project activities covered by the clean development mechanism (CDM) are appropriate for this methodology. Large-scale A/R CDM project activities are not covered by it. The carbon pools selected for accounting of carbon stock changes are shown in the following table 2.

Table 2: Carbon Pools considered in the A/R to account for carbon stock changes.

Carbon pool Whether selected Justification/Explanation Above-ground

biomass

Yes This is the major carbon pool subjected to project activity

Below-ground biomass

Yes Carbon stock in this pool is expected to increase due to the implementation of the project activity

Deadwood and litter

Optional Carbon stock in these pools may increase due to implementation of the project activity

2.3.1. Identification of the baseline scenario and demonstration of additionality The pre-project land use is continued in the baseline scenario for a small-scale A/R CDM project activity executed under this methodology. Participants in the project (PPs) prove that the project activity is additional by setting a realistic baseline scenario.

2.3.1.1. Methodology

Baseline net GHG removals by sinks

The baseline net GHG removals by sinks shall be calculated as follows:

where:

∆𝐶_{𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡} = Baseline net GHG removals by sinks in year t; t CO2-eq.

∆𝐶_{𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡} = ∆𝐶𝑇𝑅𝐸𝐸_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡 + ∆𝐶𝑆𝐻𝑅𝑈𝐵_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡+ ∆𝐶_{𝐷𝑊_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡}+ ∆𝐶_{𝐿𝐼_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡}

48

∆𝐶𝑇𝑅𝐸𝐸_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡 = Change in carbon stock in baseline tree biomass within the project boundary in year t, as estimated in the tool

“Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-eq

𝐶𝑆𝐻𝑅𝑈𝐵_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡

=

Change in carbon stock in baseline shrub biomass within the project boundary, in year t, as estimated in the tool

“Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶_{𝐷𝑊_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡}

=

Change in carbon stock in baseline dead-wood biomass within the project boundary, in year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶_{𝐿𝐼_ 𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡}

=

Change in carbon stock in baseline litter biomass within the project boundary, in year t, as estimated in the tool

“Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2 -eq

2.3.2. Actual net GHG removals by sinks

GHG emissions resulting from removal of herbaceous vegetation, combustion of fossil fuel, fertilizer application, use of wood, decomposition of litter and fine roots of N-fixing trees, construction of access roads within the project boundary, and transportation attributable to the project activity shall be considered insignificant and therefore accounted as zero

The actual net GHG removals by sinks is calculated as follows:

49

∆𝐶𝐴𝐶𝑇𝑈𝐴𝐿,𝑡=∆𝐶𝑃,𝑡−𝐺𝐻𝐺𝐸,𝑡 where:

∆𝐶𝐴𝐶𝑇𝑈𝐴𝐿,𝑡 = Actual net GHG removals by sinks, in year t; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶𝑃,𝑡 = Change in the carbon stocks in project, occurring in the selected carbon pools, in year t; t CO2-eq

𝐺𝐻𝐺𝐸,𝑡 = Increase in non-CO2 GHG emissions within the project boundary as a result of the implementation of the A/R CDM project activity, in year t, as calculated in the tool “Estimation of non-CO2 GHG emissions resulting from burning of biomass attributable to an A/R CDM project activity”; t CO2 -eq.

Change in the carbon stocks in project, occurring in the selected carbon pools, in year t is calculated as follows:

∆𝐶_𝑃,𝑡 = ∆𝐶𝑇𝑅𝐸𝐸_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡 + ∆𝐶𝑆𝐻𝑅𝑈𝐵_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡+ ∆𝐶_{𝐷𝑊_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡}+ ∆𝐶_{𝐿𝐼_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡} + ∆𝑆𝑂𝐶_{𝐴𝐿,𝑡}

where:

∆𝐶_𝑃,𝑡 = Change in the carbon stocks in project, occurring in the selected carbon pools, in year t; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶𝑇𝑅𝐸𝐸_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡

=

Change in carbon stock in tree biomass in project in year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”;

t CO2-eq

50

∆𝐶𝑆𝐻𝑅𝑈𝐵_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡

=

Change in carbon stock in shrub biomass in project in year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”;

t CO2-eq

∆𝐶_{𝐷𝑊_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡} =

Change in carbon stock in dead-wood biomass in project in year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶_{𝐿𝐼_ 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝐽,𝑡} =

Change in carbon stock in litter biomass in project in year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-eq

∆𝑆𝑂𝐶_{𝐴𝐿,𝑡} =

Change in carbon stock in SOC in project, in year t, as estimated in the tool “Tool for estimation of change in soil organic carbon stocks due to the implementation of A/R CDM project activities”;

t CO2-eq 2.3.3. Leakage

Leakage emissions shall be estimated as follows:

𝐿𝐾_𝑡 = 𝐿𝐾_{𝐴𝐺𝑅𝐼𝐶,𝑡} where:

𝐿𝐾_𝑡 = GHG emissions due to leakage, in year t; t CO2-eq

51 𝐿𝐾_{𝐴𝐺𝑅𝐼𝐶,𝑡} = Leakage due to the displacement of agricultural activities in

year t, as calculated in the tool “Estimation of the increase in GHG emissions attributable to displacement of pre-project agricultural activities in A/R CDM project activity”; t CO2 -eq

2.3.4. Net anthropogenic GHG removals by sinks

The net anthropogenic GHG removals by sinks is calculated as follows:

∆𝐶_{𝐴𝑅−𝐶𝐷𝑀,𝑡} = ∆𝐶_{𝐴𝐶𝑇𝑈𝐴𝐿.𝑡}− ∆𝐶_{𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡}− 𝐿𝐾_𝑡

where:

∆𝐶_{𝐴𝑅−𝐶𝐷𝑀,𝑡} = Net anthropogenic GHG removals by sinks, in year t; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶_{𝐴𝐶𝑇𝑈𝐴𝐿.𝑡} = Actual net GHG removals by sinks, in year t; t CO2-eq

∆𝐶_{𝐵𝑆𝐿,𝑡} = Baseline net GHG removals by sinks, in year t; t CO2-eq 𝐿𝐾_𝑡 = GHG emissions due to leakage, in year t; t CO2-eq

2.3.5. Calculation of tCERs and lCERs

The tCERs and lCERs for a verification period T = t2 – t1, where t1 andt2 arethe years of the start and the end, respectively, of the verification period, are calculated as follows:

𝑡𝐶𝐸𝑅_𝑡2 = ∑ ∆𝐶_{𝐴𝑅−𝐶𝐷𝑀,𝑡}

𝑡₂

1

𝑙𝐶𝐸𝑅_𝑡2 = ∑ ∆𝐶_{𝐴𝑅−𝐶𝐷𝑀,𝑡}

𝑡₂

𝑡₁+1

where:

52 𝑡𝐶𝐸𝑅_𝑡2 = Number of units of temporary certified emission

reductions (tCERs) issuable in year t2

𝑙𝐶𝐸𝑅_𝑡2 = Number of units of long-term certified emission reductions (lCERs) issuable in year t2

∆𝐶_{𝐴𝑅−𝐶𝐷𝑀,𝑡} = Net anthropogenic GHG removals by sinks, in year t; t CO2-eq

𝑡₁, 𝑡₂ = The years of the start and the end, respectively, of the verification period

If 0

2 

lCERt then

t2

lCER represents the number of lCERs that shall be replaced because of a reversal of net anthropogenic GHG removals by sinks since the previous certification.

2.3.6. Assessment of additionality

Project participants (PPs) shall demonstrate that the project activity would not have occurred anyway due to at least one of the following barriers:

• Investment barriers, other than economic/financial barriers

• Institutional barriers

• Institutional barriers

• Barriers relating to local tradition

• Barriers due to prevailing practice

• Barriers due to local ecological conditions

• Barriers due to social conditions

53

Nel documento UNIVERSITY OF GENOA (pagine 55-62)