Category Archives: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Canada Unveils Direct Air Capture And Storage Offset Protocol

By Violet George
Carbon Herald
January 30, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

Canada is advancing its carbon removal strategy by developing a protocol for Direct Air Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage (DACCS).  This plan will establish a system for companies that extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere and permanently store it underground to generate federal offset credits. These credits will be tradable under Canada’s existing Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations. This initiative aims to stimulate investment in the nascent field of direct air capture (DAC) technology, which is considered a critical tool for mitigating climate change.  The proposed protocol, released by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is subject to public review until March 28, 2025… By creating offset credits for DAC ventures, Canada is progressing toward its net-zero emissions target. The federal offset credit system will offer financial incentives, potentially making carbon removal a commercially viable industry.

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How Bioenergy and the Forest Sector Can Help Meet Canada’s Energy Demands

By Forestry for the Future
Maclean’s Magazine
January 30, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

Every winter, Canadians bemoan the rising cost of heating their homes and businesses. Yet… few Canadians know about bioenergy—a sustainable approach that can play an important role in meeting Canada’s energy needs while simultaneously helping address climate change. Bioenergy refers to when biomass … is used to generate energy. Bioenergy is already widely used in some Nordic countries and is the largest source of renewable energy globally today. “Biomass energy is a true alternative to fossil fuel-based energy sources as it does not release any long-term stored carbon to the ecosystem,” says Cal Dakin, director of innovation and woodlands for Mercer International. Canada’s forest sector is in a prime position to help address energy challenges as well as build a more sustainable and circular economy as the primary source of biomass.

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Fraser Institute News Release: Ottawa’s “Net Zero” emission-reduction plan will cost Canadian workers $8,000 annually by 2050

By The Fraser Institute
Cision Newswire
January 30, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER, BC – The federal government’s plan to achieve “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions will result in 254,000 fewer jobs and cost workers $8,000 in lower wages by 2050, all while failing to meet the government’s own emission-reduction target, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Ottawa’s emission-reduction plan will significantly hurt Canada’s economy and cost workers money and jobs, but it won’t achieve the target they’ve set because it is infeasible,” said Ross McKitrick, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of Canada’s Path to Net Zero by 2050: Darkness at the End of the Tunnel. The government’s Net Zero by 2050 emission-reduction plan includes: the federal carbon tax, clean fuel standards, and various other GHG-related regulations, such as energy efficiency requirements for buildings, fertilizer restrictions on farms, and electric vehicle mandates. By 2050, these policies will have imposed significant costs on the Canadian economy and on workers. 

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Arbios Biotech biomass to bio-oil facility is set to go

By Cheryl Jahn
CKPG Today
January 29, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

PRINCE GEORGE – It was 2021 when Canfor announced a final investment decision on a project to produce biofuel. The plant will use hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert forestry residues and wastes into high value into renewable biocrude, which can be further refined to produce low-carbon transportation fuels. “What we do is essentially, what nature does over millions of years we do in 25 to 30 minutes,” explains Rune Gjessing, CEO of Arbios Biotech. “We’re taking organic matter, manipulating it, and then producing oil.” In August 2022, a formal naming of the Arbios facility adjacent to the Canfor Intercon Pulp mill to Chuntoh Ghuna, meaning “the forest lives.” …The world’s largest hydrothermal liquefaction facility in the world, converting 25,000 dry tonnes of wood residuals into 50,000 barrels of biofuel annually. …The plant uses residuals from the forest sector. …The biofuel produced will be used for aircraft and marine purposes.

 

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Transition to more biomass heating in Northwest Territories requires better supply chain, advocates say

By Jocelyn Shepel
CBC News
January 30, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

A gathering of advocates, researchers and government officials in the N.W.T. this week is looking at biomass as a viable alternative to diesel in the territory. The Arctic Energy Alliance’s “Biomass Week” started Monday in Yellowknife and continues all week. Biomass is organic matter — for example, wood — that is used to generate energy. Statistics Canada data shows that diesel accounted for roughly half of the territory’s total energy demand in 2023. A significant portion of that diesel is used for space heating and power generation, according to the Canada Energy Regulator. The non-profit Arctic Energy Alliance wants to help steer the territory away from fossil fuels and toward cleaner energy sources. …If the territory is to move away from fossil fuels, Heyck believes biomass is a viable option. He says having more certified wood-stove installers and people who can service and install pellet stoves in the territory is helping.

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Canada Invests in Climate Change Adaptation to Keep Communities Safe in Northern Ontario and Across Canada

By Natural Resources Canada
Government of Canada
January 29, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada East

OTTAWA — Across the country, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe and more frequent with extreme events like floods, wildfires and heatwaves on the rise. …Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, along with Member of Parliament Viviane Lapointe and Member of Parliament Anthony Rota, announced over $2.7 million in funding for five projects based in northern Ontario under Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP). These projects aim to support professionals, decision makers and First Nation communities in northern Ontario and across Canada to advance the implementation of climate change adaptation plans and actions through the development and delivery of tools, training and resources. One of the projects will also identify lessons learned from previously implemented adaptation actions.

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Biodiversity in several Hamilton areas in ‘severe decline’ says botanist after conducting land survey

By Justin Chandler
CBC News
January 24, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada East

Hamilton’s urban forests and woodlands may look nice and green, but according to a recent land survey commissioned by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, looks can be deceiving. The non-profit club says Hamilton’s biodiversity is in “severe decline.” In the spring, Hamilton field botanist Paul O’Hara went out to 11 natural areas in central and western Hamilton… To people living in the area today, it may seem very lush, but the region was once maybe a hundred times richer in biodiversity, O’Hara said. To people living in the area today, it may seem very lush, but the region was once maybe a hundred times richer in biodiversity. That “shifting baseline” is a problem when it comes to protecting our natural world, said Brian McHattie, program director at the naturalists’ club.

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Conditions that fueled Los Angeles fires were 35% more likely because of climate change, scientists find

By Evan Bush
NBC News
January 28, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US West

Climate change increased the likelihood of the extreme conditions that allowed the recent fires to roar across the Los Angeles area, an international group of scientists said Tuesday. The hot, dry and windy conditions that preceded the fires were about 35% more likely because of human-caused global warming, according to a new report from the World Weather Attribution group, which analyzes the influence of global warming on extreme events. …“This was a perfect storm when it comes to conditions for fire disasters,” John Abatzoglou, at the University of California, Merced said. …The authors analyzed weather and climate models to evaluate how a warmer atmosphere is shifting the likelihood of fire weather. …The researchers found that the kind of conditions that drove the L.A. area fires are expected to occur on average once in 17 years in today’s climate. Such conditions would have been expected once every 23 years without climate change.

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Microsoft’s Key Role in Growing 35 Million Trees in the US

By Steven Downes
Sustainability Magazine
January 31, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US East

Microsoft has sealed a long-term agreement with Chestnut Carbon to provide high-quality, nature-based carbon removal from its afforestation, reforestation and revegetation (ARR) project in the Southern US. The deal, one of the largest ARR offtakes in the US, spans 25 years and will deliver over 7 million tons of carbon removal credits. The carbon removal will be derived entirely from Chestnut’s ARR project in the southern United States, including Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. It is in addition to an initial agreement between Chestnut and Microsoft in December 2023 and involves multiple phases – estimated to restore 60,000 acres of land by planting over 35 million native, biodiverse hardwood and softwood trees… The Chestnut Sustainable Restoration Project stands out because of its focus on creating a long-lasting ecosystem of native forests at scale.

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May conference focuses on expanding markets for wood residuals

By the Department of Natural Resources
State of Michigan
January 30, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US East

Once logging is done and lumber is sawn, what do you do with the wood chips, bark and sawdust that’s left?What do other manufacturers and mills do with their wood waste? These materials are commonly used for mulch, fuel, composite products and animal bedding. But what if wood residuals could be used for other products and generate more revenue? Innovative uses for wood residuals are the focus of the Green Gold: Wood Residuals Summit May 6-8 in Traverse City. “The management of wood residuals presents an economic and operational challenge that has cascading impacts on the health of our forests and forestry sector,” said Julie Manley, chair of the Michigan Forest Biomaterials Institute, the event host. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is a sponsor. “New products are proving that sawdust, bark and chips can be used in insulation, adhesives, chemicals and more – with the added climate benefit of embedded carbon.

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Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series Announces 2025 Series Focused on High-integrity Forest Carbon Offsets and Programs

Michigan State University
January 27, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US East

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series (LES), co-hosted by the Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP), the Society of American Foresters (SAF), and the FOCCE Program at Pennsylvania State University invites academics, practitioners, policymakers, and other experts to present innovative and important research, projects, and strategies relating to forest carbon. The series aims to develop and expand forest stakeholder knowledge and perspectives on forest carbon science, management, and strategy. The 2025 Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series will feature six webinar panels that will bring together leading experts in forest carbon science, management, and policy to advance dialogues in support of high-integrity forest carbon offsets and credits. Panel conversations will not only identify major questions, barriers and gaps surrounding forests carbon offsets, but work to further the dialogue by identifying current research needs and potential pathways forward to foster the role of forests as natural climate solutions.

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Georgia’s timber industry eyes sustainable aviation fuel to secure its future

By Shanteya Hudson
Public News Service
January 27, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US East

Georgia is the nation’s top forestry state, grappling with overproduction and the aftermath of severe storms which damaged timber supplies. Industry leaders and policymakers are turning to sustainable aviation fuel to boost the industry, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions. Sen. Larry Walker, R-Perry… said the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel from companies like Delta Air Lines highlights its potential. However, he emphasized expanding production requires strategic federal policies and research to ensure long-term growth. “To invest in a facility that manufactures SAF, it’s a huge investment. It’s a long-term proposition,” Walker stressed. “We need some certainty out of Washington what the public policy is going to be, what the incentives to create this industry are.” …Walker added state lawmakers plan to introduce bills during the 2025 legislative session to support forestry innovation and expand sustainable aviation fuel production in the state.

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Finland’s forests now emit more CO2 than they absorb

The Helsinki Times
January 29, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: International

Finland’s forests, once a crucial carbon sink, have become a source of emissions, raising concerns over the country’s climate policy and carbon neutrality targets. According to the latest data from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Finland’s forests emitted 1.12 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023. This shift began gradually around 2010 and has accelerated since 2018. By 2021, Finland’s forests had transitioned from absorbing carbon to releasing it. The main causes are declining forest growth, increased logging, and rising emissions from forest soil. The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector, which includes forests, emitted a total of 11.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023. This makes it one of Finland’s largest emission sources, surpassing emissions from sectors such as agriculture. LUKE’s report highlights three key reasons behind the decline of Finland’s forest carbon sink.

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Finland stopping logging won’t save global climate, says new climate minister

By Aleksi Teivainen
Helsinki Times
January 27, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: International

Sari Maltala, a 46-year-old third-term Member of Parliament from Uusimaa, has started in her new role as minister of climate and the environment by emphasising the needs of the forest industry. Multala on Friday outlined at a press conference that the climate crisis and biodiversity loss are “fateful questions” for the planet that require “effective solutions”. She acknowledged that measures to strengthen the carbon sink of forests – the cornerstone of the national effort so achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 – are required but declined to specify the nature of such measures. When asked about the need to scale back logging volumes – one of the primary causes of the shrinking carbon sink – she took the opportunity to emphasise the needs of the forest industry. “The world’s climate can’t be saved by stopping logging in Finland,” she retorted.

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UK would need forest ‘twice size of London’ to offset new airport expansion

By Josh Gabbitiss and Verner Viisainen
CarbonBrief.org
January 27, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: International

A forest twice the size of Greater London would need to be planted in the UK to cancel out the extra emissions from the expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports, Carbon Brief analysis reveals. New runaways at these airports surrounding London would result in cumulative emissions of around 92m tonnes of extra carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by 2050, if the number of flights increases in line with their operating company targets. For example, offsetting these emissions would require more than 300,000 hectares of trees to be planted within just a few years. This equates to all the trees planted in the UK since 2000… Reeves has stressed that “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAFs) and electric planes could help to offset these emissions. However, such technologies are still in the early stages of deployment and previous Carbon Brief analysis suggests the role of SAFs in achieving net-zero may be limited.

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