Carbon

Carbon sequestration which locks up new carbon and carbon reduction which reduces carbon used and emitted. There is a significant difference between the measurement and selling of carbon reduction units where you might change management practices within your business reducing your carbon footprint and carbon sequestration which is the active capture of carbon from the air (or a process) and the storing of it.

An example footprint reduction could be the acquisition of an electric vehicle fleet to replace a petrochemical-based fleet and using sustainably produced electricity to power them. An example of a sequestering action would be the creation of a new woodland on a previously arable field. The woodland and peatland carbon codes are well established and adopted but further codes for soil and hedgerow carbon are in development.

Scope

There is a wide scope for carbon sequestration including the exiting and well-established UK Woodland Carbon and Peatland Codes as well as developing Hedgerow and soil carbon codes making accurate carbon measurement and monetisation a very real opportunity.

Timescales

Carbon capture projects are typically between 10 and 50 year arrangements which include arrangements to bind the land for the agreed use. Those purchasing the units usually pay an option arrangement fee and the balance of the agreed sum on receipt of accredited carbon credits. Those land managers entering the carbon market should be aware that their land will be bound into the specific land use for a period of time.

Do you have a carbon offsetting requirement?

Accredited units can be traded between parties and a variety of ways of confirming this land management change is possible including management agreements or the direct purchase of accredited carbon units.

Do you have land that could be used to provide carbon reduction?

Do you have land that could be used to provide either Carbon reduction via a change in management practices or where you are going to seek to sequester carbon via the Woodland Carbon Code or Peatland Carbon Code.