Botswana's offer still stands: Germany can have 20,000 elephants.
Botswana's president renews his offer: 20,000 elephants for Germany. The debate over hunting trophies nearly caused diplomatic tensions in 2024. Here's what's behind it.
A study by the Think Tank Climate Focus reveals high market potential for nature-based CO2 storage in Germany. How can agriculture and forestry enter the carbon market? "Think negative - Think negative." The motto of declared pessimists is now also applicable in climate protection. Avoiding greenhouse gas emissions is not enough - according to climate protectors, the balance must be reversed. In practice, this means either sequestering CO2 in the soil (CCS) or fixing carbon in the soil. While CCS is controversial in Germany, nature-based C-fixation is seen by many as a potential game-changer that could also be economically viable in the free market.
Thinking about nature and climate protection together. This is at least one of the results of the study "Negative Emissions in Agriculture and Forestry. A Win-Win-Win for Climate, Nature, and Economy. Recommendations for functioning carbon markets," presented this week in Berlin by the German Association for Negative Emissions (DVNE). According to co-author Prof. Charlotte Streck, nature-based measures for carbon storage are not the sole but a crucial solution for global climate protection.
As outlined by the President of the Think Tank Climate Focus, these measures alone could contribute up to 37% of global greenhouse gas reduction by 2030. However, the fact remains that, for example, the agricultural sector in Germany has been an emitter rather than a sink since 2018 due to droughts and calamities. This highlights the necessity of considering climate protection in conjunction with species and nature conservation to maintain the climate resilience of such habitats. Enormous economic potential for carbon storage If ensured, agriculture and forestry could develop significant potential for carbon storage, according to Streck. This could possibly form the basis for a market model to mobilize private investments through carbon markets, benefiting both climate protection and nature and the economy.
As indicated by the study, the market potential for nature-based solutions in Germany, at a price of €150 per ton of stored CO2, is estimated to be up to 33 million tons of CO2 equivalents annually by 2050, amounting to nearly one billion euros in private funds annually. However, this potential is far from being fully utilized, as the markets in Germany are still in their infancy and hindered by a lack of political support, legal uncertainties regarding double counting and permanence, as well as the credibility of climate statements and specific barriers, such as for biochar. Therefore, only about 1% of the annual extraction potential is currently being utilized in ongoing projects in Germany, as emphasized by Streck. Policy must set the framework to change this, the study formulates eight recommendations to the German government, aiming to create investment security through clear political commitments and legal clarifications, structurally promote demand, and facilitate project development: Clear commitment to the voluntary carbon market: The federal government must clearly affirm the role of carbon markets and nature-based solutions.
Clarification on double counting: Companies should be able to credit voluntarily acquired climate protection achievements for compensation in their climate balance sheets. Clarification on the permanence and climate benefits of nature-based solutions: Nature-based solutions are crucial for achieving climate goals and avoiding temperature peaks. Clarification on climate statements by companies: Companies need clarity on recommended credible climate statements and the role certificates can play within these statements. Clarification of the eligibility for CO2 removal projects: Doubts about eligibility must be eliminated.
Elimination of legal barriers for biochar: There is a need for legal regulation, especially in the area of biochar, which would remove unnecessary investment hurdles. Creation of demand for certificates: The federal government should boost demand for certificates directly. Facilitation of project development: The federal government should promote the development of projects through transparency, market infrastructure, collaborations, as well as the identification and availability of land.