Peatland restoration could help UK businesses offset their CO2 emissions

Restoring peatlands in the United Kingdom (UK) appears to be a suitable way for companies to offset CO₂ emissions close to home. The Grantham Research Institute researched that UK companies now often offset abroad because they have difficulty finding local projects with enough impact.

Peatlands naturally store a lot of CO₂. About ten percent of the UK’s land is peatland, but eighty percent of it is in decay. During this decay, the stored CO₂ is released to the air. Decayed peatlands currently account for four percent of the UK’s CO₂ emissions.

Ireland

Earlier efforts to restore the peatland were also underway in Ireland. In this country, there was a strong tradition of using dried peat, peat, as fuel. Because of the amount of CO₂ released in the process, this is a very environmentally unfriendly fuel and the restoration of Irish peatland cuts both ways. More carbon dioxide can be stored and less is released.

Restoration of Irish peatlands should lead to sharp reductions in emissions

The central area of Ireland is known for its vast stretches of peat bogs.

Climafi

Climafi, a UK-based company, it specializes in implementing the Peatland Protocol, a new method for restoring peatlands. The vegetation in a peatland retains a lot of CO₂. By timely pruning and maintaining these plants, these areas retain CO₂ and are able to absorb more CO₂.

The amount of CO₂ that can be absorbed depends on the depth of the peat. Where the peat is deeper, a lot of CO₂ can be absorbed. If there is too much water in the soil, new peat cannot be formed. In these places, Climafi can prepare the soil to stimulate more CO₂ uptake.

‘Households should also start paying for CO2 emissions’

In order to limit CO2 emissions, the EU has introduced what are known as emission rights.

Emissions trading system

Companies can invest in peatland restoration through Climafi by buying “UK peatland carbon credits.” With this, the company is introducing an emissions trading system, whereby companies buy credits based on the company’s own emissions. Unavoidable carbon emissions can then be offset through investment in peatland restoration.

This system is verified by “The Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market,” a body that regulates the UK’s emissions trading system. They check a project for positive environmental impact, fair price and ensure that a company’s activities are always verifiable.