Global cost estimates of forest climate mitigation with albedo: a new integrative policy approach

Abstract

Climate change mitigation policies have usually considered forest-based actions as cheap and fast options to reduce CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere and slow down global warming. Most economic analyses, however, have ignored the effects of these actions on land surface albedo and the resulting effect on energy balance and temperature. This study estimates the marginal cost of forest mitigation associated with both carbon sequestration and albedo change, by introducing regional and forest-specific albedo information in a global dynamic forestry model. Our analysis indicates that traditional forest sequestration policies have underestimated the costs of climate mitigation, driving forest-based actions in regions where subsequent changes in albedo are significant. To reduce this inefficiency, this paper proposes a novel approach where both carbon sequestration and albedo effect are incorporated into pricing. Our results suggest that, under the same carbon price path, the integrative policy provides greater net global mitigation in absolute terms and per hectare of forest, and thus it is more efficient and less intrusive than the traditional policy.

Applying a science‐based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy

“…The climate effects of forest‐based bioenergy can be augmented or diminished by associated changes in biophysical properties of land, such as surface albedo, emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds, surface roughness, evapotranspiration and sensible heat fluxes that directly or indirectly affect climate (e.g. Anderson et al, 2011; Bonan, 2008; Favero et al, 2018; Lutz & Howarth, 2015; Luyssaert et al, 2018). These effects are complex and highly dependent on location, tree species and management practice, and have implications for global as well as regional and local climate (e.g.…”

Combining MODIS and National Land Resource Products to Model Land Cover-Dependent Surface Albedo for Norway

“…To exclude the surface albedo in the assessments of land-based mitigation can result in the implementation of policies that are suboptimal or even counterproductive [4,5]. Indeed, recent research has consistently demonstrated the need to value the surface albedo alongside carbon in order to maximize mitigation benefits, particularly for forestry projects [6][7][8][9][10].…”

Focus on the role of forests and soils in meeting climate change mitigation goals: summary

“…In the fourth paper in the focus collection, Favero et al (2018) conduct an economic analysis of the role of forests to mitigate climate change, and suggested albedo effects could be added to the analysis along with carbon sequestration. However, other research shows albedo effects on radiative forcing at the scale of actual land use change are minor and too weak to cause observable changes in temperature (Lee et al 2011).…”