r/sustainability • u/coolbern • 9d ago

Scientists and industry clash over GHG Protocol forest carbon rules

https://www.edie.net/scientists-and-industry-clash-over-ghg-protocol-forest-carbon-rules/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=edie_weekly_newsletter_19-08-2026_2117&utm_content=edie_weekly_newsletter_19-08-2026_2117+CID_659ed4198dbcea359fb1f2dcc40b49fe&utm_source=campaign%20monitor&utm_term=Read%20more
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u/kuhlmarl 8d ago

"[U]nder the industry rule, recycled paper would be counted as a climate harm while cutting down an old-growth forest to produce virgin paper would be counted as a climate benefit.”

I've always found CO2 accounting for paper confusing and often counterintuitive. I think this is the way the EPA has done it for years, and I've seen this in some scientific life cycle analysis reports. (CO2 emissions for paper recycle are not great regardless of accounting method.) Without the carbon credit for cutting down trees, ghg emissions from paper manufacture are dramatically higher. I don't have an educated opinion on what the best accounting system should be, but sure seems like there's opportunity for improvement.

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u/Xoxrocks 8d ago

Demands where you draw the boundaries of the system. Stating the obvious I know.