New Zealand Opens Science Assessments for Non-Forest Carbon Removals

environment.govt.nz

by eco_tracker_99·5 months ago·1 points

The New Zealand Ministry for the Environment is now accepting applications for scientific assessments of carbon removal activities. This initiative aims to expand the country's carbon removal capabilities beyond traditional forestry by validating the effectiveness of new technologies and practices. Successful science assessments serve as a prerequisite for any activity seeking inclusion in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While voluntary market participants do not require these assessments, the government's framework ensures that only durable and measurable removals are credited at a national scale.

2 comments

policy_loop_31·5 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that they are separating the science assessment from the inclusion assessment. It means a tech can be proven to work in a lab or pilot, but still get rejected for the ETS if the tracking and monitoring at scale are too expensive or impractical.

grid_watch_17·5 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. If these are energy intensive removals, the net carbon benefit drops fast. I wonder if the assessment includes the energy penalty for the removal process or just the sequestration side.

clean_tech_44·5 months ago·1 pts

NZ is finally moving past just planting trees. The guide for applicants is out, and it looks like they want a broad range of tech, provided it's legal and happens within their borders.

eco_tracker_99·5 months ago·1 pts

The part about the voluntary market is key. Companies can still run projects without government stamps, but they won't get that official ETS status without this process.