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The cycle of carbon release and renewal in the environment. |
Carbon Offsetting and Carbon Credits Defined
The Kyoto protocol requires participating industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by an average of 5% belolw 1990 levels by 2012.
Not all reductions have to originate in the participating country: some GHG emissions can be "offset" through paying for sustainable development projects resulting in equivalent GHG reductions in less-developed countries.
Example: Germany can meet part of its Kyoto commitment through in-state wind farms and could also potentially offsets a small fraction by funding tree planting in Kenya.
Carbon credits represent verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from a given activity.
Voluntary Carbon Markets
Voluntary carbon markets are emerging for businesses and individuals who would like to offset their GHG emissions.
Many of these project activities have clearly defined sustainable development benefits.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Role Of Sub Saharan African Biomass
GHG emissions in African countries are relatively low compared to industrialized countries. However, significant development benefits can be realized through carbon funding for renewables and the efficient use of biomass fuels.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 90% of all household energy comes from biomass (wood and charcoal), with 8% coming from fossil fuels and 6% from electricity.
In rural areas, clearing land for agriculture and woodfuel drives an annual deforestation rate of 2%. Urban demand for wood products, woodfuel, and charcoal produced from woodfuel increase the strain on forest resources.
It is projected that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa could be reduced by the equivalent of 100 million tonnes of CO2 per year through sustainable management of forest resources.
The Ugandan Stove Market
Uganda has one of the least developed stove markets in East Africa.
Over 17 million rural Ugandans rely on wood collection for household cooking and heating and do not use improved stoves.
Affordability is the biggest barrier to improvement.
UCODEA And Carbon Credits
UCODEA and CEIHD partner to secure carbon credits for increased dissemination of the improved charcoal and wood stoves in Kampala, Uganda.
To qualify, we have researched improved-stove data on fuel savings, emissions profiles, and the sustainability of fuel resources.
Credits are only granted for increases in stove dissemination (and reductions in GHG emissions) additional to the business as usual scenario that would occur without funding. With access to research data and additional analysis, the carbon credits can be verified.
Carbon finance will be used to fund improved social marketing and production efficiency to generate further stove dissemination.
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