China strengthens forest carbon sink construction to promote the achievement of carbon neutrality goals
2024-07-19
China has made significant progress in continuously strengthening the construction of forest carbon sinks to promote the achievement of carbon neutrality goals. Heilongjiang Province recently held a forestry carbon trading launch ceremony, announcing the establishment of a provincial-level forestry carbon trading system in the province. Heilongjiang Province, known as the "ecological security barrier of northern China", has a forest area of 20.12 million hectares, accounting for 8.7% of the country's forest area, ranking third in the country. The forest ecosystem carbon storage is about 5.7 billion tons, which is a key force for China to achieve its "dual carbon" goals. Guo Qingjun, a first level inspector of the Ecological Protection and Restoration Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said that as an important forest resource rich province in northern China, the establishment of a provincial-level forestry carbon trading system will effectively promote the realization of ecological product value in the province and even the whole country. This is the first provincial-level forestry carbon trading system established under the leadership of the forestry and grassland department in China. Climate issues are a global concern. The measures taken by humans to address climate change mainly include reducing greenhouse gas emission sources and increasing greenhouse gas absorption sinks. Forests absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis to form carbon sinks, which are widely recognized as the most economical carbon absorbers currently available. Forestry carbon sink refers to the process, activity, or mechanism of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through afforestation, reforestation, forest management, and reducing deforestation. As the largest developing country, China has always actively participated in global climate governance with a responsible attitude, achieved the 2020 climate action target ahead of schedule, and announced efforts to achieve carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. The so-called carbon neutrality refers to individuals or organizations calculating their own carbon dioxide emissions and providing corresponding funds to institutions engaged in carbon dioxide reduction based on the emissions to offset the emissions. With the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, forest carbon sinks have gradually entered people's vision. Developed countries cooperate with developing countries to implement afforestation in developing countries, using the generated forest carbon sinks to offset some of their domestic greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Clean Development Mechanism, forestry carbon sinks have advantages such as low cost, good benefits, and great potential. The development of forestry carbon sequestration projects has become the main path to increase ecosystem carbon sequestration and realize the economic value of forest ecosystem carbon sequestration functions. The first batch of forestry carbon tickets in China were issued in Sanming, Fujian in May 2021. In December of the same year, China's first national standard for forestry carbon sequestration, the "Guidelines for the Approval and Verification of Forestry Carbon Sequestration Projects," was promulgated and implemented. China's forestry carbon trading is becoming increasingly active. Li Jian, an academician of the CAE Member, said in an interview that the development of forestry carbon sink projects is conducive to improving forest land soil, improving forest stand quality, making use of good forest ecological resources, improving forest property yield, promoting the positive interaction between ecological protection and economic development, and is one of the key means to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. As of 2022, China's forest area exceeds 230 million hectares, with a forest coverage rate of over 24%. According to the Overall Plan for Major Projects of National Important Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (2021-2035), China's forest coverage rate will reach 26% by 2035, with a forest stock volume of 21 billion cubic meters. Many regions in China are continuously increasing their efforts to build forest carbon sinks according to local conditions. Hou Xumin, Director of the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, introduced that Heilongjiang has introduced the "Forestry Carbon Sequestration Project Work Plan" and "Project Trading Management Measures", and established the "Heilongjiang Green Carbon" management platform, achieving dynamic management of forestry carbon sequestration resources throughout the province. Shandong explores and promotes scenarios and supporting services for financial support of forestry carbon sequestration projects; Guizhou explores the mechanism of realizing the value of ecological products through forestry carbon sinks as an important carrier; Sichuan, Fujian and other provinces are exploring the establishment of a high-quality development system for forest and grassland carbon sinks to increase forest stock. Inner Mongolia, which has the largest forest area in China, has abundant carbon reserves and sinks. Last year, it achieved forest and grassland carbon trading of about 27 million yuan. At the launch ceremony of forestry carbon trading in Heilongjiang Province, the first batch of "Heilongjiang Green Carbon" trading agreements were signed, with a total signing amount of 4.285 million yuan. It is reported that the first batch of "Longjiang Green Carbon" will be donated free of charge to the 9th Asian Winter Games to help achieve carbon neutrality. Experts suggest that further efforts should be made to guide, regulate, and support the forestry carbon sink market, improve the quality of forest nurturing, and promote the healthy development of forest carbon sinks. In September last year, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Plan for Deepening the Reform of the Collective Forest Rights System", proposing the establishment and improvement of a forestry carbon sequestration measurement and monitoring system, and the formation of a forestry carbon sequestration accounting baseline and methodology. The plan clearly states that supporting eligible forestry carbon sequestration projects to develop into voluntary greenhouse gas reduction projects and participate in market transactions, and establishing a sound ecological protection compensation mechanism that can reflect the value of carbon sequestration. By improving the existing methodological system, we can promote the realization of ecological product value marked by forestry carbon sinks, turn 'invisible and intangible' carbon sinks into 'commodities', achieve carbon neutrality goals, and contribute to the protection of our planet Ni Hongwei, President of Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, said. (New Society)
Edit：He Chuanning Responsible editor：Su Suiyue
Source：Xinhua
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