Retaining forests is cost-effective for reducing carbon emissions
Deforestation in the tropics causes about one quarter of anthropogenic carbon emissions globally. Now, an international team of economists has demonstrated that leaving the trees standing is a very cost-effective way to reduce global carbon emissions.
While afforestation – planting trees – is allowed under the Kyoto Protocol as a way for developed nations to offset their carbon emissions, avoiding deforestation, i.e. leaving the trees standing, is not. Conservationists argue that it should be, pointing out that retaining existing forest has ...