As the COVID-19 situation developed in mid March, to ensure the safety of our members and to continue to provide ongoing resources, Biological Carbon Canada hosted our first virtual Town Hall. The focus was on educating our stakeholders on how using carbon offset markets retain and enhance Canada’s grasslands.
Here is a round-up of the speakers and additional links to review entire presentations.
Presenter:William Salas, Dagan Inc.
Topic: The role of Satellite Remote Sensing for Cost Effective Verification at Scale
Remote sensing can play a key role in reducing the transaction costs for an effective market. Through satellite-based technology, Dagan Inc. is striving to identify and change the transaction costs so growers and ranchers are receiving the lions share of the carbon value.
This is achieved through Geokit: geospatial information technology and web applications that supports:
- OPTIS: Operational Tillage Information System – satellite based ag management system
- RDSS: Rangeland Decision Support System – remote sensing based grazing land monitoring
More about Dagan Inc.
A new soil health and agricultural ecosystem services company, working to be a leader in providing third party, scientifically rigorous and transparent data services to support effective ecosystem services markets and Scope 3 reporting.
Presenter: Katie Sullivan, Managing Director, IETA
Topic: Global Carbon Markets & Natural Climate Solutions
NCS draws on the power of nature to help reduce emissions, remove carbon from the atmosphere and help store it in natural systems. Growers, ranchers and the forestry industry can turn the potential of NCS into reality through the implementation of the following:
- Sustainable Crops & Livestock
- Grassland & Cropland Management
- Avoided Deforestation
- Wetland Retention & Restoration
- Mobilizing Private Investment at Scale
- Food Systems & Supply Chains
- International Co-operation
More about IETA
The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) is a non-profit business created to establish a functional international framework for trading in greenhouse gas emission reductions. IETA members seek to develop an emissions trading regime that results in real and verifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions, while balancing economic efficiency with environmental integrity and social equity.
Presenter: Max DuBuisson, Director of Carbon Operations, Indigo Ag
Topic: Offset Protocols for Grassland Conservation & Management
During this presentation, Max DuBuisson, Indigo Ag, asks the question; What is the “bar” for development of a “high-quality” offset project protocol? and answers through discussing the following:
- Voluntary vs compliance protocols
- Standardized vs project-based protocols
- Ownership
- Additionality
- Permanence
- Quantification
- MRV: Monitoring, reporting, & verification
More about Indigo Ag
Alongside growers and buyers, Indigo Ag is building a system responsive to demands for high quality and sustainably produced food and fiber. Indigo develops microbial and digital technologies that improve grower profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health.
Presenter: Brian McConkey, Chief Scientist, Viresco Solutions
Topic: Addressing the Science Gaps
There is a pressing need to fill knowledge gaps on the soil organic carbon (SOC) change of grasslands and forage lands in Canada. Not knowing the carbon change is a fundamental deficiency and affects the opportunity to achieve credits in offsets for the recent management practices. Three basic approaches to estimate the SOC change will be discussed:
- Measurement based SOC change on land over a specific area
- Practice based factors
- SOC Process model based
More about Viresco Solutions
Viresco Solutions is an environmental consulting firm helping clients strategically navigate the complex and evolving world of sustainability. They develop science-based metrics and solutions to enhance their clients’ social license to operate.
Presenter: Karen Haugen-Kozyra, President, Viresco Solutions
Topic: Conversion of Annual Cropland to Perennial Forage Protocol
Determining the eligibility, quantification and the rules of the game for the grasslands protocol and the conversion of annual crops to perennial forage.
REVIEW PDF PRESENTATION VIEW VIDEO PRESENTATION
More about Viresco Solutions
Viresco Solutions is an environmental consulting firm helping clients strategically navigate the complex and evolving world of sustainability. They develop science-based metrics and solutions to enhance their clients’ social license to operate.
Presenter: Denise Chang-Yen, Manager Development, Nature Based Solutions, Shell
Topic: Nature Based Solutions: An Opportunity for Canada
Shell is committed towards moving to a lower carbon future and is helping to make this happen by providing solutions to help customers reduce their emissions. In Canada, given the size of its natural ecosystems and the work already done on market mechanisms, it has a large-scale opportunity to create and be successful in reducing their carbon footprint through Nature Based Solutions.
REVIEW PDF PRESENTATION
More about Shell
Shell is an integrated energy company that aims to meet the world’s growing demand for energy in ways that are economically, environmentally and socially responsible. They seek to reinforce their position as a leader in the oil and gas industry, while helping to meet global energy demands in a responsible way.
Presenter: James Renouf, Director, Environmental Portfolio, Capital Power
Topic: Alberta Offsets: A Compliance Buyer Perspective
From the perspective of a compliance buyer, James Renouf, from Capital Power, provides the definition of a compliance buyer, how they view the market, and their contract mechanics.
REVIEW PDF PRESENTATION VIEW VIDEO PRESENTATION
More about Capital Power
As one of North America’s most innovative, respected and reliable power generators, Capital Power is focused on providing Responsible Energy for Tomorrow.
