Forest Carbon Accounting in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol

This webinar provides a critical look at the issue of forest carbon accounting from the perspective of independent scientists involved in a recent Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard-setting process. All panelists participated in the Protocol’s forest carbon deliberations, either as appointed members of a technical working group or as current or past members of the Protocol’s decision-making Board. As documented in recent media stories, however, the Protocol’s treatment of scientific information was controversial and ultimately led to the resignation of two panelists.

We summarize competing proposals for forest carbon accounting rules and assess their scientific integrity. Notably, we explain why an industry proposal to adopt the “managed land proxy” method for forest carbon accounting would make emissions-intensive products and companies appear carbon negative, encourage increased wood harvesting, and undermine confidence in climate reporting. We also explain why an alternative method, known as “activity-based” accounting, is consistent with standard scientific approaches to quantifying the effects of forest management and forest carbon crediting programs on the climate. Finally, we also discuss procedural irregularities in the Protocol’s decision-making process and their relationship to the development of ISO 13391 product standards, which effectively implement the managed land proxy proposal and which are under consideration for jointly issued Protocol-ISO standards.

Our goal is to inform public stakeholders about the merits and stakes of this debate as well as to encourage comments to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which is accepting public feedback through February 1, 2027.