Fighting
Climate Change
with
Carbon Offsets:
What
is the role of forestland in New England?
a workshop
for forest stakeholders
Sorry,
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
To
inquire about cancelations, call 207-721-9040, ext 1.
When:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
8:30-5pm
Where:
Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, ME
(directions)
Lodging Options:
(options)
(Please forward this
web page to anyone you think may be interested in participating.)
REDUCE YOUR
FOOTPRINT and CARPOOLto the workshop:
If you are interested
in reducing your carbon footprint by carpooling to the workshop,
click here to see a list
of registrants by state, including contact information.
_____________________________________________
View
PROGRAM
_____________________________________________
Carbon
Offset Registries and Protocols
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
In January, 2007,
the International Panel on Climate Change concluded, with 90%
confidence, that global warming is being caused by human activities.
The question has shifted from “Is global warming occurring?”
to “How can we mitigate and adapt to global warming?”
There are two ways to mitigate global warming: (1) reduce
atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), and (2) offset
emissions by “sequestering” GHGs. Reducing emissions
through energy conservation, and by developing alternatives
to fossil fuels, such as wind and solar energy, is critical.
But forests could play a significant role in offsetting CO2
emissions, the primary GHG. Trees breathe in CO2 from the atmosphere
and convert (sequester) carbon into various structural elements
such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Trees are natural
(and free) atmospheric scrubbers of CO2.
The emerging carbon
offset markets may provide an opportunity to maintain
or even enhance forest cover in the U.S. (and globally). But
there are a number of challenges to using forests as a carbon
offset strategy. These challenges need to be evaluated, discussed,
and resolved from a technical standpoint and from a social legitimacy
standpoint, otherwise we may lose an important opportunity to
protect forests and fight climate change.
We will host a 1-day
workshop for forest stakeholders in New England to help everyone
become familiar with the carbon offset market, and to discuss
what role our New England forests might play.
WORKSHOP
OUTLINE
- What
are the different types of forest projects that can offset
carbon, and how do the regulatory and voluntary carbon markets
view each?
- What
is the Chicago Climate Exchange, and how does it evaluate
forest offset projects?
- What
is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and what
is the potential for forest projects to be included as a mechanism
in this developing regulatory arena?
- Additionality,
leakage, and permanence, demystified.
- What
are some examples of carbon offset projects from around the
world?
- What
is "product substitution" and why is it so important
in estimating carbon sequestered by managed forests?
- Modeling
forest carbon in Maine: what role can our managed forests
play in the carbon marketplace?
- What
are the opportunities for small woodlot owners to enter the
carbon market?
- PRACTICUM:
Assess additionality and leakage for sample forest carbon
project in New England.
A
detailed agenda is presently under construction. Bookmark
this web page for updates.
HOTEL
INFORMATION
A limited number of
rooms have been blocked at the Holiday Inn in Augusta for a
rate of $65. Call 207-622-4751 and mention "Carbon
Offsets Conference" to receive this reduced rate.
Reservations must be made by June 20th.
The Holiday Inn is
located next to the Civic Center. Other local hotels include:
Comfort Inn (207)623-1000, Econo Lodge (207)622-6371), and Best
Western Senator Inn (207) 622-5804.
Contact
John Hagan for further information: 207-721-9040, or email:
jmhagan@prexar.com
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