Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation
In 2023, the Australian Government issued ∼250,000 soil carbon credits following a measurement period characterised by high rainfall (Decile 10). The inferred soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates during this period, ranging from ∼2 to 8 t C ha−¹ yr−¹, significantly exceed rates reported in...
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| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Carbon Management |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17583004.2024.2430780 |
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| author | Elaine Mitchell Naoya Takeda Liam Grace Peter Grace Ken Day Sahar Ahmadi Warwick Badgery Annette Cowie Aaron Simmons Richard Eckard Matthew Tom Harrison William Parton Brian Wilson Susan Orgill Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel David Pannell Paige Stanley Felicity Deane David Rowlings |
| author_facet | Elaine Mitchell Naoya Takeda Liam Grace Peter Grace Ken Day Sahar Ahmadi Warwick Badgery Annette Cowie Aaron Simmons Richard Eckard Matthew Tom Harrison William Parton Brian Wilson Susan Orgill Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel David Pannell Paige Stanley Felicity Deane David Rowlings |
| author_sort | Elaine Mitchell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2023, the Australian Government issued ∼250,000 soil carbon credits following a measurement period characterised by high rainfall (Decile 10). The inferred soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates during this period, ranging from ∼2 to 8 t C ha−¹ yr−¹, significantly exceed rates reported in Australian scientific studies (∼0.1 to 1.2 t C ha−¹ yr−¹). Our analysis, incorporating SOC and biomass measurements alongside remote sensing of NDVI, reveals that these SOC gains were largely attributable to above-average rainfall rather than project interventions. Moreover, these gains were not sustained when rainfall returned to average levels, raising concerns about the durability of credited sequestration and its additionality beyond natural climatic variability. Our findings demonstrate that current safeguards within the Soil Carbon Method—such as withholding 25% of credits during the first measurement period—are likely insufficient to account for climatic variability. To strengthen the integrity of the carbon crediting system, we recommend extending the minimum measurement period for credit issuance to at least five years. Additionally, governments should establish science-based ‘reasonable bounds’ for expected long-term SOC gains from management practices to sense-check reported outcomes. These measures will ensure that credited SOC sequestration is more closely tied to management-driven outcomes rather than short-term climate-driven fluctuations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a97898919c2248bfbdd1f6f4c830a656 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1758-3004 1758-3012 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Carbon Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-a97898919c2248bfbdd1f6f4c830a6562025-08-20T01:59:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCarbon Management1758-30041758-30122024-12-0115110.1080/17583004.2024.2430780Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigationElaine Mitchell0Naoya Takeda1Liam Grace2Peter Grace3Ken Day4Sahar Ahmadi5Warwick Badgery6Annette Cowie7Aaron Simmons8Richard Eckard9Matthew Tom Harrison10William Parton11Brian Wilson12Susan Orgill13Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel14David Pannell15Paige Stanley16Felicity Deane17David Rowlings18Sustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Newnham, Launceston, TAS, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaSelect Carbon, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSoil & Landscape Science, School of Molecular & Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, AustraliaCentre for Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, AustraliaDepartment of Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State University, CO, USASchool of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSustainable Agroecosystems, School of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaIn 2023, the Australian Government issued ∼250,000 soil carbon credits following a measurement period characterised by high rainfall (Decile 10). The inferred soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates during this period, ranging from ∼2 to 8 t C ha−¹ yr−¹, significantly exceed rates reported in Australian scientific studies (∼0.1 to 1.2 t C ha−¹ yr−¹). Our analysis, incorporating SOC and biomass measurements alongside remote sensing of NDVI, reveals that these SOC gains were largely attributable to above-average rainfall rather than project interventions. Moreover, these gains were not sustained when rainfall returned to average levels, raising concerns about the durability of credited sequestration and its additionality beyond natural climatic variability. Our findings demonstrate that current safeguards within the Soil Carbon Method—such as withholding 25% of credits during the first measurement period—are likely insufficient to account for climatic variability. To strengthen the integrity of the carbon crediting system, we recommend extending the minimum measurement period for credit issuance to at least five years. Additionally, governments should establish science-based ‘reasonable bounds’ for expected long-term SOC gains from management practices to sense-check reported outcomes. These measures will ensure that credited SOC sequestration is more closely tied to management-driven outcomes rather than short-term climate-driven fluctuations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17583004.2024.2430780Policycarbon marketcarbon removalssoil carbongreenhouse gasclimate change mitigation |
| spellingShingle | Elaine Mitchell Naoya Takeda Liam Grace Peter Grace Ken Day Sahar Ahmadi Warwick Badgery Annette Cowie Aaron Simmons Richard Eckard Matthew Tom Harrison William Parton Brian Wilson Susan Orgill Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel David Pannell Paige Stanley Felicity Deane David Rowlings Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation Carbon Management Policy carbon market carbon removals soil carbon greenhouse gas climate change mitigation |
| title | Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation |
| title_full | Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation |
| title_fullStr | Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation |
| title_short | Making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation |
| title_sort | making soil carbon credits work for climate change mitigation |
| topic | Policy carbon market carbon removals soil carbon greenhouse gas climate change mitigation |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17583004.2024.2430780 |
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