Reporter:What is the overall situation of forest and grass carbon sequestration trading? There are reports that the unit price of carbon credit trading is very high, what do you think about this?
Wu Shuirong, researcher of the Forestry and Grassland Carbon Sequestration Research Institute:From the perspective of market supply, the supply of forest and grass carbon sinks in the international carbon market accounts for a relatively high proportion, once reaching 42%; However, from the perspective of the domestic carbon market, forest and grass carbon sinks account for less than 2% of CCER products.
From the perspective of trading**, the carbon emission quota ** in the national carbon market reached a maximum of 82 per ton in early November 202370 yuan, CCER** is expected to reach 68 per ton89 yuan; Among the local pilot carbon markets, the Beijing carbon market is relatively high, with the average transaction price of carbon emission allowances reaching 123 per tonne77 yuan, CCER average transaction price reached 70 per ton$5; In the international carbon market, the carbon sink is 8-10 US dollars per ton, which is close to the domestic CCER**. In general, although carbon sink trading has received a high degree of social attention, there are not many high-quality carbon sinks that really meet the development conditions of carbon sink projects and enter the market for trading.
At present, in addition to the national and local pilot carbon markets, many provinces and cities have also explored various forms of carbon sink development and trading mechanisms, such as forestry carbon tickets, forestry carbon inclusiveness, one-yuan carbon sinks, individual carbon sinks, mangrove carbon sinks, etc. The carbon sink accounting methods of these local carbon markets are quite different, the quality of carbon sink products is generally not high, and the trading is also diversified. As for the high unit price of a single carbon sink transaction mentioned in some reports, it is mainly some exploratory carbon sink projects, which are traded outside the carbon trading market through the form of price negotiation between buyers and sellers or auctions. This situation is unusual and not representative.
Reporter:What is the prospect of forest and grass carbon sequestration trading? What needs to be strengthened in the future?
Xiao Wenfa, vice president of the Forestry and Grass Carbon Sequestration Research Institute:As an important part of the national voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction trading, the development of CCER forestry carbon sequestration project has received extensive attention from all walks of life. Among the first four voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction project methodologies released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, two carbon sink project methodologies for afforestation and mangrove creation are included. In addition, there are widespread calls to develop more carbon sink project methodologies, increase the proportion of carbon sinks used to offset carbon emissions, and even to introduce additional preferential policies for carbon sinks. For a time, the development of forestry carbon sinks seemed to be a popular industry with high returns.
However, it is necessary to be soberly aware that with the gradual approach of the 2030 carbon peak and 2060 carbon neutrality goals, the primary task facing all key areas across the country must still be emission reduction and carbon reduction. Even if the scope of industries covered by the carbon market gradually expands and the demand for the carbon market further increases, carbon sink trading, including CCER, will only be a supplement and adjustment means to achieve the national "dual carbon" goal. There are still many controversies about carbon sink trading and carbon offset mechanisms in some international carbon markets, such as the European Union Carbon Market (EU ETS), the International Aviation Carbon Offset and Reduction Mechanism (CORSIA), and the International Certified Carbon Standard (VCS). Therefore, risks and opportunities coexist in carbon sink trading, and the development of carbon sink projects needs to be cautious.
From the perspective of national level and climate change response, there is no doubt that the carbon neutrality function of terrestrial ecosystems dominated by forests and grasslands is undoubted, and consolidating and improving the carbon sink capacity of forests and grasslands plays a vital role in the national "dual carbon" strategy. To this end, forest and grass carbon sequestration can focus on the following four aspects.
The first is to conduct in-depth research on the path of improving the carbon sink capacity of forests, grasslands, wetlands and other forests, and guide the diversified participation of society in improving the quality and efficiency of forest and grass carbon sinks. The second is to strengthen the research and construction of big data platforms related to the measurement and monitoring of forest and grass carbon sinks, improve the accuracy and efficiency of carbon sink accounting, and serve the strategic goal of carbon neutrality. The third is to improve the construction of the carbon market system, improve the management mechanism and incentive policies of forest and grass carbon sink projects, and standardize the management and supervision of forest and grass carbon sink trading. The fourth is to expand a variety of "carbon sink +" carbon trading products and carbon neutrality application scenarios, and encourage the whole society to achieve carbon neutrality by individuals, enterprises or organizations by participating in carbon sink trading.
For more information on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, please pay attention to: Linhuan Carbon.
Forestry carbon sinks