Carbon benefits from peatland restoration

ClimateXChange has been involved in peatland research from the outset, particularly focused on the carbon benefits from peatland restoration and how it might contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction in Scotland.

The Durban Summit in December 2011 paved the way for wetland management, including peatland, to be included in national greenhouse gas emissions accounting.

ClimateXChange continues to explore the implications of the international guidance for greenhouse gas emissions accounting with specific reference to wetlands in Scotland. Download our reports using the links to the right. They are:

• Potential Abatement from Peatland Restoration exploring the range of possible CO2 emissions from Scottish peatland restoration, carbon savings from all peatland restoration carried out since 1990 and the potential for carbon savings up to 2027 and a realistic restoration abatement figure. Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes were not fully considered in this early work (February 2012, revised March 2013).
• Carbon Calculator – since 2011, applications for the development of wind farms of 50 MW or greater on peatland sites have been expected to use the Scottish Government’s Peatland Carbon Calculator (the C calculator) as part of their environmental impact assessment.This report reviews the current use of the C calculator in Scotland, and considers the potential for enhancing and extending its use.
• An assessment of the proposed IPCC “2013 Supplement to the 2006 guidelines: Wetlands” for use in GHG accounting of Scottish peatland restoration – a report examining the implications of the emission factors identified in the draft 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines – (February 2014).
• A more detailed technical review of the implications of the 2013 supplement 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands and a summary of the report (February 2015).