Forests Can Help Combat Climate Change
Joint Forum by Duke Energy and The Nature Conservancy focuses on Forest Conservation as a Critical and Cost-effective Tool in the Battle against Climate Change
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA — October 23, 2009 — Protecting global forests is a critical strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and can help American businesses control their costs as the nation searches for a solution to climate change.
That’s the message delivered Friday, October 23, by a panel of experts to industry leaders, researchers, public officials and environmental advocates gathered in Indianapolis. The conference, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and Duke Energy, was convened to explore the science, the policy, and the economic benefits of using forests to cut carbon dioxide emissions while promoting business development and conserving nature.
“Forests have a critical role to play in promoting the well-being of both our environment and our economy,” said Jeff Fiedler, Senior Policy Advisor on Climate and Forests for The Nature Conservancy. “Forests produce raw materials for many of the products that American consumers buy every day, but they also have the potential to make great reductions to the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere,” said Fiedler, who spoke at the conference.
Over 17 percent of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere each year come from the destruction of forests – more than from all the planes, trains and automobiles in the entire world combined. And forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. One acre of forest is destroyed every second – a total of 37 million acres every year.
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Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia
Photo © The Nature Conservancy
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Fortunately, preventing forest destruction is one of the most cost-effective methods available to combat climate change. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their fibers. By supporting forest protection projects overseas, Hoosier businesses can earn valuable carbon credits and keep costs of emission reductions low, allowing the savings to be passed on to American consumers.
Businesses are already investing in these projects and say they will continue to do so. American Electric Power, for example, has supported projects in Bolivia, Belize, and Brazil.
“To be successful in the fight against climate change, the world must develop new, cleaner energy sources,” said Diane Fitzgerald, Managing Director of Government & Environmental Affairs for American Electric Power. “But the transition to a low carbon economy will take time and cost money. Protecting forests is cost-effective and we can do it now, so it is an important part of the solution.” Fitzgerald spoke at the conference about the partnership in Bolivia between AEP, other energy companies and The Nature Conservancy that was the first large-scale international forest carbon project.
“The Conservancy is sponsoring this conference because climate change represents one of the greatest threats to the Conservancy’s global mission of protecting plant and animal diversity,” said Mary McConnell, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana.
“Given our mission, experience and values, the Conservancy believes that partnerships with government and the private sector to conserve forests are powerful ways to combat climate change, preserve endangered habitats, and provide economic relief to businesses reducing their emissions,” McConnell said.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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