Lambert Schneider’s Post

Europe's carbon credits: Solution or environmental scam? Carbon credit projects are booming in Europe, but there are also some scams and unintended consequences. While claiming to compensate for emissions, not all schemes deliver what they promise. https://lnkd.in/ehhJ2nYv Not all Carbon Credits are the same . Interesting summary of the issues when buying carbon credits on the Volountary Market , Biochar shines through. #Biochar #VolountaryCarbonMarkets

Europe's carbon credits: Solution or environmental scam? by Serdar Vardar Carbon credit projects are booming in Europe, but there are also some scams and unintended consequences. While claiming to compensate for emissions, not all schemes deliver what they promise. https://lnkd.in/eUGmfaFE

Many people ask themselves about the ways of carbon trading work on the climate change mitigation. let me share a little bit on the ways carbon trading helps on climate change mitigation; 1.Encouraging Emission Reductions Carbon trading sets a cap on total allowable emissions for industries, organizations, or countries.Entities that emit less than their allocated limit can sell their excess allowances (carbon credits) to others who exceed their limits.This creates a financial incentive to invest in clean energy, efficiency, and low-carbon technologies. 2.Promoting Cost-Effective Solutions Instead of every company reducing emissions in the same way, carbon trading allows reductions to occur where it is cheapest and most efficient.A company that can cut emissions at a lower cost can sell credits, while another that faces high costs can buy them resulting in overall cheaper climate action. 3.Supporting Carbon Sequestration Projects Trading markets often include credits from carbon offset projects such as: • Forestry and afforestation (planting trees to absorb CO₂) • Soil carbon storage through sustainable agriculture • Renewable energy projects replacing fossil fuels.These projects remove or prevent emissions, directly aiding climate change mitigation. 4.Aligning with Global Climate Goals Carbon trading supports targets set under the Paris Agreement by: • Helping countries meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) • Encouraging international cooperation through mechanisms like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Article 6 market approaches. #carbonTanzania #Oneacrefund #mwambaotz #EACOP #WWF

Thank you Nicholas Roy and Karen Palmer for this highly informative - and ultimately heartbreaking - analysis on the costs of repealing the Carbon Pollution Standards: -Increases in coal generation of 169–456 TWh by 2040, or 4.8–8.7 times as much coal generation as was expected with the regulations in place. An increase in cumulative CO2 emissions from the power sector by 1.2–5.8 gigatons by 2050. -A net increase of 2.1–3.3 percent annually in national average electricity prices from now to 2050. This combines the 1–1.4 percent decrease from CPS repeal with the OBBBA increases of 3.3–4.7 percent over the same period. -Net increases in average net household electricity costs of $67–$97 per year in the 2030s, driven by the CPS’s decreases of $19–$24 annually and the OBBBA’s increases of $87–$121 annually over the same time period. However, CPS repeal savings for households increase in the 2040s to $34–$44 annually on average per household over the decade due to coal plants remaining online. -Increases in health damages that exceed the savings from lower compliance costs. The climate and health damages from this regulatory repeal will be 4–8 times the savings from reduced compliance costs across the modeled sensitivities. Considering solely the health effects along with the power sector’s financial outcomes, there is a total net cost of $128.9 billion (2024 US dollars) through 2050 to US society in our central case.

The Staggering Hidden Health and Social Costs of Trump's Misguided Repeal of EPA’s Carbon Pollution Standards (CPS): Consequences for the Environment, Households, and Society - New Brief by Resources for the Future; The RFF work shows the climate and health damages from this regulatory repeal will be 4–8 times the savings from reduced compliance costs across the modeled sensitivities. Considering solely the health effects along with the power sector’s financial outcomes, there is a total net cost of $128.9 billion (2024 US dollars) through 2050 to US society in the RFF's central case." "On June 11, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a repeal of the existing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Standards and Guidelines for Fossil-Fired Power Plants, hereafter referred to as the CPS. EPA’s repeal is part of the new administration’s deregulatory agenda for the US power sector, whose stated goals are to lower costs and to meet rising electricity demand. The proposed repeal would lead to measurable changes in outcomes for the nation’s electric power sector, especially when assessed in conjunction with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and updated electricity demand forecasts. Policymakers and the public alike are paying attention to the action’s likely result of slowing US GHG emission reductions. In this issue brief, RFF considers the economic costs of the greenhouse gas emissions unabated due to this repeal and evaluate other costs and benefits for the US population from the proposed repeal using updated data. Indeed, according to the RFF's analysis: if the EPA conducted a cost-benefit analysis using updated electricity demand projections and including the electricity tax credit changes from the OBBBA, then the repeal of the CPS would fail a traditional cost-benefit test—even without factoring in the increase in GHG emissions. With the repeal of the CPS, US residents will likely see: Increases in coal generation of 169–456 TWh by 2040, or 4.8–8.7 times as much coal generation as was expected with the regulations in place. An increase in cumulative CO2 emissions from the power sector by 1.2–5.8 gigatons by 2050. A net increase of 2.1–3.3 percent annually in national average electricity prices from now to 2050. This combines the 1–1.4 percent decrease from CPS repeal with the OBBBA increases of 3.3–4.7 percent over the same period. Net increases in average net household electricity costs of $67–$97 per year in the 2030s, driven by the CPS’s decreases of $19–$24 annually and the OBBBA’s increases of $87–$121 annually over the same time period. However, CPS repeal savings for households increase in the 2040s to $34–$44 annually on average per household over the decade due to coal plants remaining online, increasing health damages that exceed the savings from lower compliance costs." #cps #climate https://lnkd.in/gcfx8qeN

Source: (Journal of environmental management) Study integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for pit lakes, enhancing sustainability by addressing upstream impacts. Applied to Island Copper, Scheibe, and Berkeley Pit, findings reveal significant effects on ecosystem quality and human health, with specific contributions from ammonium nitrate, electricity use, and quicklime. The EIA-LCA framework aids in quantifying impacts, identifying hotspots, and guiding sustainable decision-making for pit lake end-uses.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rolling back climate regulations for power plants. The proposal would withdraw limits on carbon emissions for new gas-fired plants and coal plants using carbon capture, as well as remove standards for mercury and air toxics. If finalized, the changes could affect how future power facilities, including gas plants and data centers, are regulated and operated. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eEanyDZk #EPA #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalPolicy #CleanEnergy #CarbonEmissions #AirQuality #PowerPlants #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenEnergy #EnvironmentalJustice #PublicHealth #CarbonCapture #GasPlants #CoalPlants #MercuryPollution #ClimateRegulations #EcoNews #EnvironmentalImpact #EnergyPolicy

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rolling back climate regulations for power plants. The proposal would withdraw limits on carbon emissions for new gas-fired plants and coal plants using carbon capture, as well as remove standards for mercury and air toxics. If finalized, the changes could affect how future power facilities, including gas plants and data centers, are regulated and operated. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eFugBbWf #EPA #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalPolicy #CleanEnergy #CarbonEmissions #AirQuality #PowerPlants #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenEnergy #EnvironmentalJustice #PublicHealth #CarbonCapture #GasPlants #CoalPlants #MercuryPollution #ClimateRegulations #EcoNews #EnvironmentalImpact #EnergyPolicy

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rolling back climate regulations for power plants. The proposal would withdraw limits on carbon emissions for new gas-fired plants and coal plants using carbon capture, as well as remove standards for mercury and air toxics. If finalized, the changes could affect how future power facilities, including gas plants and data centers, are regulated and operated. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ev2eYjTg #EPA #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalPolicy #CleanEnergy #CarbonEmissions #AirQuality #PowerPlants #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenEnergy #EnvironmentalJustice #PublicHealth #CarbonCapture #GasPlants #CoalPlants #MercuryPollution #ClimateRegulations #EcoNews #EnvironmentalImpact #EnergyPolicy

India's Ministry of Environment has finalized its National Designated Authority (NDA) to launch the country's carbon market, a significant step in its climate goals and its commitments under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The expanded 21-member NDA, chaired by the Environment Ministry's Secretary, will oversee the identification and approval of projects generating carbon credits. This move supports both a compliance market, focusing on hard-to-abate sectors, and a voluntary market for other activities, paving the way for the market's anticipated launch in 2026. Key Details of the NDA: Composition: A 21-member committee including representatives from the Ministries of Environment, External Affairs, Power, Steel, Aviation, and NITI Aayog. Chairperson: The Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Responsibilities: To recommend projects for trading emission reduction units under Article 6, evaluate and authorize them, and authorize the use of emission reduction units towards India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). India's Carbon Market Framework: Dual Market Structure: India is establishing both a compliance market for obligated sectors and a voluntary market to encourage action in other areas like agriculture and afforestation. Regulatory Support: The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, provides the regulatory backing for both market types. Launch Timeline: The market is slated to launch by mid-2026, with key regulatory steps like emission intensity targets expected to be rolled out in the near future. Market Mechanism: The system allows for the trading of carbon credits, creating a financial value for emission reductions and incentivizing the adoption of cleaner technologies. Environment Ministry finalises National Designated Authority to kickstart carbon markets - The Hindu https://lnkd.in/gcsrTS6K