Implementing conservativeness in REDD+ is realistic and useful to address the most uncertain estimates

One of the main challenges in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), either within a future UNFCCC mechanism or as part of result-based initiatives, is to design a system which is credible and broadly implementable by developing countries. To ensure credibility of REDD+ high quality monitoring systems are needed, i.e. capable of producing accurate estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. However, a possible trade-off exists between the high quality system requirement and broad participation: if a significant number of countries will not fully access REDD+ because of not being able to produce accurate estimates, the consequent risk of leakage (i.e. emissions displacement to these countries) could undermine the ultimate scope of REDD+. In this issue, Plugge et al. analyzed the implications of applying the principle of conservativeness in the context of uncertainties of carbon stock change estimates in REDD+. While this principle is included in several UNFCCC documents (e.g., UNFCCC 2006), its application to REDD+ was proposed by Grassi et al. (2008) “to address the potential incompleteness and high uncertainties of REDD+ estimates”; i.e. “when completeness or accuracy of estimates cannot be achieved the reduction of emissions should not be overestimated, or at least the risk of overestimation should be reduced”. Wide interest has been shown in this proposal (e.g., GOFC-GOLD, 2011; Herold & Skutsch, 2011; Meridian Institute, 2011). This comment aims to: • Highlight the technical and scientific differences between the approaches of Plugge et al. (this issue) and Grassi et al. (2008) for the implementation of the conservativeness principle. • Summarize and further discuss a scientifically defensible yet realistic approach to implement conservativeness in REDD+ context.

GRASSI Giacomo;  FEDERICI Sandro;  ACHARD Frederic; 

2013-06-27

SPRINGER

JRC81850

0165-0009,   

http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10584-013-0780-x.pdf,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC81850,   

10.1007/s10584-013-0780-x,