地球温暖化防止策としてのカーボン・オフセットの可能性について

抄録

Terrestrial carbon sequestration has gained increasing attention in the search for a least cost approach to stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of CO₂-the principle cause of global warming. Terrestrial carbon sequestation or “carbon offsets, ” are actions that seek to enhance the ability of natural carbon sinks such as tropical forests to absorb or “offset” emissions of electric power plants, factories and other sources of CO₂.
This paper discusses three broad areas : 1) the present state of research on terrestrial carbon sequestration, Including estimates of the world wide availability land for this purpose : 2) the experience of a number of electric utility companies in the United States and Holland who have implemented carbon offset projects on a voluntary basis : and 3) the current policy status of carbon offsets in the United States, Japan and internationally.
The paper suggests that terrestrial based carbon sequestration is an attractive option. If high standards are maintained, forest based carbon offsets provide a cost-effective method that can be used to address the global warming problem. It is a strategy that can be implemented relatively quickly, is less costly than other methods, and has many side benefits. Important regulatory issue remain to be resolved before the use of carbon offsets become widespread ; however, this approach can serve as a bridge until fossil fuel alternatives become more economical, while at the same time making a positive contribution to afforestation and forest conservation.