The Framework Convention on Climate Change has promoted a recommendation to standardize the measurement of environmental impacts derived from the use of firewood and charcoal, with the aim of harmonizing calculations and avoiding distortions in carbon markets.
The chosen model is MoFuSS, a tool developed by scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), capable of simulating the impact of wood extraction and harvest worldwide.
Biomass use and its environmental consequences
It is estimated that one third of the world’s population depends on:
- Firewood and charcoal for cooking.
- Kerosene to a lesser extent.
However, its use generates:
- Deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Health risks in rural and urban-marginal areas.
A necessary change in calculating the impact of firewood use
Until now, efficient stove projects have used various technological tools to measure environmental impact. This has hindered obtaining accurate data and has generated distortions in the carbon bond market.
According to Adrián Ghilardi, leader of the MoFuSS development team, the UN seeks to eliminate alternative methods and adopt a single indicator by December 2030, when its effectiveness will be evaluated.
MoFuSS operation
The system allows modeling:
- Landscape dynamics in the face of wood extraction.
- How communities harvest and process charcoal.
- The impact of land use beyond biomass, including agricultural and urban expansion.
Before approval, the model was tested in Honduras, Haiti, and countries in Latin America and Africa, demonstrating its effectiveness in quantifying non-renewable firewood.
Impact on carbon markets
The implementation of MoFuSS will have direct consequences on the commercialization of carbon bonds, affecting especially:
- Fraudulent projects that overestimate emission reductions.
- Companies that inflate energy savings to obtain higher compensations.
According to Ghilardi, some entities will go from charging 100 times less because calculations will be more precise and transparent.
A step towards environmental transparency
The co-founder of Calyx Global, Donna Lee, argues that the standardization of measurements will:
- Enhance stability and predictability in the market.
- Allow for a better evaluation of carbon credits.
- Reduce bias in data by using an open-source system.
MoFuSS will not only improve emission quantification but also ensure greater rigor in forest conservation, enabling carbon markets to operate more fairly and effectively.
By: Daniela López/ SciDev.Net
