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Repository for definitions and mappings in model comparison projects
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Where to report carbon removals from BECCS? #85

Open gidden opened 3 months ago

gidden commented 3 months ago

In the @IAMconsortium/common-definitions-emissions task team, we are discussing how to account for removals from BECCS-related processes.

In IAMs, we have the issue that while the negative component of BECCS emissions is due to plantation/crop production and harvest, the (negative) emissions are accounted for by the energy sector (either electricity or synthetic fuels).

This raises a problem when trying to spatially place removals (e.g., in the context of CMIP7) or account for carbon credits under Article 6 shemes.

Our proposal is to report both - Carbon [Removal|Capture]|BECCS|Production (or similar, reported in the regions where the removals physically occur) and Carbon [Removal|Capture]|BECCS|Consumption (or similar, reported in the regions where the carbon is ultimately stored).

Thoughts and opinions welcome @IAMconsortium/common-defintions-energy and @IAMconsortium/common-definitions-land

cc @strefler / @jayfuhrman

masahirosugiyama commented 3 months ago

This is a very interesting issue. I don't know about the CMIP context but to me the distinction is not about production versus consumption. It's about physical storage vs. carbon credits (based on some accounting).

Can we use the IPCC AR6 variable "Carbon Sequestration|CCS|Biomass" (or an updated name) for physical storage? This refers to where CCS takes place (with electricity or synfuel generation).

For credits, the variable should be consistent with those which have been (or are going to be) used for burdern sharing analysis, etc., I guess. I don't know how previous research dealt with this. Just my two cents.