adelphi study on the prospects of a national wetland climate protection fund

Wetland protection is climate protection. A study undertaken by adelphi on behalf of the German Emissions Trading Authority on the restoration of wetlands and moors highlights the possibility of a wetland protection fund, which would allow for the financing of measures through a high quality certificate as compensation for greenhouse gas emissions.

Of the 1.8 million hectares of wetland in Germany, only 5 per cent remain in their natural state. Intact wetlands act as sinks for greenhouse gases, while drained areas significantly contribute to CO2 emissions. The German National Inventory Report for 2010 estimated the emissions total to be 47 million tonnes, which amounts to 5.6 per cent of overall German greenhouse gas emissions in the given timeframe. To restore such areas would require great investments.

Financial models are available that derive funding from a mix of public and private sources. Such approaches have already been tested in practice and are particularly suitable for eliminating any entry barriers that might arise as a result of start-up or grant funding for the linking of wetland and climate protection concerns. The study “The Development of Concepts for a National Climate Protection Fund for the Restoration of Wetlands” also showed that existent state-based initiatives ought to be integrated and coordinated at the federal level.

adelphi and the Faculty of Plant Ecology at the University of Weihenstephan-Triesdorf evaluated national and international initiatives that encompass both climate and wetland protection. Other key features of the study included single fund elements such as project types, standards, methodologies and certifiers, target groups and buyers, financing and ownership.

The study is available online.

For further information go to:
http://www.adelphi.de/en…