FORESTS AND AGRICULTURE
Offsets | Bioenergy: Biofuels | Bioenergy: Biomass
Forests and agriculture will play significant roles in a low-carbon economy. The majority of CCPP's work in this area focuses on how agriculture and forestry participate in a national greenhouse gas cap-and-trade policy.
Offsets
A variety of carbon offset protocols have emerged in the absence of a federal standard. Work is currently underway to evaluate the differences between multiple forest offset project types and protocols. One particular project uses empirical field data to simulate a forest management offset project being operated under seven different state, regional, and voluntary markets and registries. The resulting analysis sheds much needed light on the real-world implications of using different approaches to address additionality, baseline, leakage, permanence, and uncertainty. Related work on the transaction costs encountered in offset project implementation is providing a greater understanding of the exact factors that contribute to project feasibility. CCPP staff also continues to build on their work with faculty to document the role of forests generally in a changing climate and policy environment. In addition to applied research, CCPP staff continues to be involved with policy discussions over the scope and construction of an offsets program.
Work in Progress:
- An applied analysis of multiple forest offset project types in North American forest
- The role of public lands in a low-carbon economy
Publications:
Galik, C.S., M.L. Mobley, and D.deB. Richter. 2009. A virtual “field test” of forest management carbon offset protocols: the influence of accounting. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 14: 677–690.
Galik, C.S., J. Baker. 2009. Policy Options for the Conservation Reserve Program in a Low-Carbon Economy. Climate Change Policy Partnership, Duke University, Durham, NC. 30p.
Galik, C.S. and R.B. Jackson. 2009. Risks to Forest Carbon Offset Projects in a Changing Climate.
Forest Ecology and Management 257 (2009) 2209-2216.
Galik, C. S., Richter, D. deB, Mobley, M. L., Olander, L. P, Murray, B. C. 2008. A critical comparison and virtual "field test" of forest management carbon offset protocols. Climate Change Policy Partnership, Duke University, Durham, NC. 46p.
Olander, L., T. Profeta, B. Murray, C. Galik, and M. Dawson. 2008. Designing offsets policy for the U.S.: principles, challenges, and options for encouraging domestic and international emissions reductions and sequestration from uncapped entities as part of a federal cap-and-trade for greenhouse gases. Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University. Durham, NC. 130p.
View Nicholas Institute suite of offset products >
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Project Experts: Christopher Galik, Brian Murray, Lydia Olander, Rob Jackson, Dan Richter
Project Contact: Christopher Galik, christopher.galik@duke.edu, 919-681-7193
Bioenergy: Biofuels
The CCPP's biofuels project identifies specific gaps in biofuels research and helps inform lawmakers about policy options and their implications. We are analyzing federal policy options for integrating biofuels into a comprehensive climate policy. We are also evaluating implications of federal biofuels policy such as the renewable fuel standard.
Publications:
Galik, C.S., W. Hodgson, C. Raborn, and P. Bean. 2009. Integrating Biofuels into Comprehensive Climate Policy - An Overview of Biofuels Policy Options. Climate Change Policy Partnership, Duke University, Durham, NC. 54p.
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Project Experts: Christopher Galik, Justin Baker
Project Contact: Christopher Galik, christopher.galik@duke.edu, 919-681-7193
Bioenergy: Biomass
The CCPP's biomass research involves extensive cooperation with faculty at North Carolina State University to examine the potential supply of forest biomass. A key part of this work is an analysis of the impact that an expanded use of biomass may have on other forest users, such as the pulp and paper industry.
Work in Progress:
- Regional & sectoral impacts of expanding bioenergy demand
Publications:
Galik, C.S., R.C. Abt, and Y. Wu. 2009. Forest Biomass Supply in the Southeastern United States -- Implications for Industrial Roundwood and Bioenergy Production. Journal of Forestry 107 (2009): 69-77.
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Project Experts: Christopher Galik, Justin Baker, Bob Abt (N.C. State University)
Project Contact: Christopher Galik, christopher.galik@duke.edu, 919-681-7193
