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Scientific American
4 days ago
- General
- Scientific American
Tree Planting Efforts Could Actually Worsen Climate Change
CLIMATEWIRE | Carbon markets that fund forest preservation and tree-planting might actually be worsening climate change by increasing risks for wildfires that emit massive levels of greenhouse gases, a new United Nations-affiliated report says. Forests have been seen as one of the most effective places to counter climate change by absorbing carbon emissions. But that's changed, says a May paper from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), an academic arm of the international U.N. In the past decade, wildfires of record-breaking size have erupted in places such as Canada, Australia, Siberia and the Amazon rainforest. This week, forest wildfires forced evacuations of thousands of Canadians in Manitoba and Alberta provinces. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. 'Forests and peatlands have increasingly transitioned into massive carbon emitters in many parts of the world due to increasing wildfires,' the report says. Climate policies and carbon-mitigation activities 'fail to account for these substantial emissions.' The report highlights weaknesses in a central global strategy for addressing climate change — planting and protecting trees — which has attracted billions of dollars from polluters that fund the projects to offset their own carbon emissions. A large share of the money is paid through the voluntary carbon market, a largely unregulated system that has come under increasing scrutiny over its integrity. Recent major wildfires have been particularly harmful. The 2023 forest wildfires in Canada emitted more greenhouse gases than the total industrial emissions of any country in the world except for China and India, Ju Hyoung Lee, a research fellow at UNU and lead author of the report, said in an interview from Seoul, South Korea. In California, wildfires in 2024 destroyed parts of forests that were supposed to be storing carbon through an offset program under the state's cap-and-trade carbon market. Without systematic monitoring of forest conditions, the paper says, the voluntary carbon market and other policies that promote forests 'may unintentionally exacerbate wildfire hazards.' Planting new trees to absorb carbon could have the opposite effect, the report says, as more heat and increased carbon dioxide emissions from climate change accelerate forest growth while also depleting soil moisture. 'Planting more and more trees in such an environment with the purpose of carbon mitigation will likely increase carbon emissions due to future fires,' the report warns. When the businesses certifying forest projects in the voluntary carbon market consider wildfire risk, they normally look at historical incidents of fires, Lee said. But, she added, 'Forests are changing, and our forests [won't] be like what it was like for the last 20 years." Historical data often leaves out the past five years, which includes some of the worst fires on record, Lee said. As a result, fire risk is typically underestimated by nonprofits such as Verra, which sets standards for and certifies climate projects to be listed on the voluntary market, Lee said. Representatives for Verra did not respond to a request for comment. Concerns about forests and their changing dynamics have existed for more than a decade, Kaveh Madani, director of the UNU-INWEH, said in an interview from Toronto. The report hopes to get the message out, Madani said, that existing forest programs and certification standards were developed using science that's now outdated — and the projects 'can increase the risk of increased emissions, in some cases.' Madani emphasized that not all forest programs in the voluntary carbon market and elsewhere create a wildfire threat. The paper advocates reforming the voluntary carbon market and similar systems to better account for forest conditions and to prevent unintended consequences, including more wildfires. Rainfall, soil health, and expected future droughts and heat waves should be considered before approving forest projects 'as a carbon emissions reduction solution,' the paper says. Satellite observations could identify areas where forests are growing and fuels are accumulating, leading them to be excluded from carbon markets 'due to the potential high emissions in case of future fires,' the paper says. The risk of wildfire and other environmental conditions that could damage forests 'must be included in our planning for the future and the schemes that we have in place,' Madani said.
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump admin to weigh request for leasing seabed mining of critical minerals
President Trump signed an order last month directing NOAA to fast-track permits for companies seeking to mine the ocean floor in US and international waters AP Washington The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will consider selling leases to extract minerals from the seabed off the South Pacific island of American Samoa, a potential first step in a wider industry push to allow deep-sea mining that environmentalists oppose because they say it could irreparably harm marine ecosystems. The Department of Interior said it is responding to an April request from California-based company Impossible Metals for a commercial auction. The company wants to mine the ocean floor for deposits of nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fast-track permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in US and international waters. The move comes amid the Trump administration's trade war with China, which controls many critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese used in high-tech manufacturing, including for military uses. Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation's resilience and safeguarding our national interests, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release. He said the upcoming evaluation could be a prelude to future mining in the US Outer Continental Shelf. Environmentalists worry that ocean mining could harm fisheries and even affect oceans' ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming. More than 30 countries, as well as fisheries trade groups, environmentalists and some auto and tech companies, have called for a moratorium on seabed mining. We're ready for a fight as Trump's dangerous deep-sea mining obsession worsens, said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Centre for Biological Diversity. Mining the ocean floor will damage fragile habitat and unique critters we haven't even discovered yet. Island communities depend on healthy oceans and declaring open season on mineral prospecting puts people and wildlife at risk. Impossible Metals said it has developed an autonomous underwater robot that uses artificial intelligence to minimise harm to marine life and habitat. Beginning the process to access seabed minerals from our own waters is a big win for the US (by) securing critical minerals here at home instead of relying on foreign competitors," Impossible Metals CEO Oliver Gunasekara said in an email. "We're ready to work with all stakeholders to show that bold innovation, economic prosperity, and environmental protection can go together. Burgum said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will undertake a multistep evaluation, starting with public input. Opponents say any US approval of deep-sea mining would ignore an ongoing process to adopt international rules for the practice. Most countries in the 1990s joined a United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority to govern seabed mining in international waters. But the US never signed on to the effort, which hasn't yet adopted rules. Countries can approve mining in their own territorial waters, so Impossible Metals wouldn't need permission from the authority. Canada-based The Metals Company has said it plans to apply this year through a US subsidiary for permits to mine in international waters.
21-05-2025
- Business
Trump administration will evaluate request to sell leases for seabed mining of critical minerals
The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will consider selling leases to extract minerals from the seabed off the South Pacific island of American Samoa, a potential first step in a wider industry push to allow deep-sea mining that environmentalists oppose because they say it could irreparably harm marine ecosystems. The Department of Interior said it is responding to an April request from California-based company Impossible Metals for a commercial auction. The company wants to mine the ocean floor for deposits of nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fast-track permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in U.S. and international waters. The move comes amid the Trump administration's trade war with China, which controls many critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese used in high-tech manufacturing, including for military uses. 'Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation's resilience and safeguarding our national interests,' Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release. He said the upcoming evaluation could be a prelude to future mining in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Environmentalists worry that allowing more ocean mining could harm fisheries and even affect oceans' ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming. More than 30 countries, as well as fisheries trade groups, environmentalists and some auto and tech companies, have called for a moratorium on seabed mining. 'We're ready for a fight as Trump's dangerous deep-sea mining obsession worsens,' said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'Mining the ocean floor will damage fragile habitat and unique critters we haven't even discovered yet. Island communities depend on healthy oceans and declaring open season on mineral prospecting puts people and wildlife at risk.' Impossible Metals did not immediately respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment. It says on its website that it has developed an autonomous underwater robot that uses artificial intelligence to minimize harm to marine life and habitat. Burgum said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will undertake a multistep evaluation, starting by asking for public input. Opponents say any U.S. approval of deep-sea mining would ignore an ongoing process to adopt international rules for the practice. Most countries in the 1990s joined a United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority to govern seabed mining in international waters. But the U.S. never signed on to the effort, which hasn't yet adopted rules. Countries can approve mining in their own territorial waters, so Impossible Metals wouldn't need permission from the authority. Canada-based The Metals Company has said it plans to apply for permits this year through a U.S. subsidiary to mine in international waters. ___
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration will evaluate request to sell leases for seabed mining of critical minerals
The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will consider selling leases to extract minerals from the seabed off the South Pacific island of American Samoa, a potential first step in a wider industry push to allow deep-sea mining that environmentalists oppose because they say it could irreparably harm marine ecosystems. The Department of Interior said it is responding to an April request from California-based company Impossible Metals for a commercial auction. The company wants to mine the ocean floor for deposits of nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fast-track permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in U.S. and international waters. The move comes amid the Trump administration's trade war with China, which controls many critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese used in high-tech manufacturing, including for military uses. 'Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation's resilience and safeguarding our national interests,' Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release. He said the upcoming evaluation could be a prelude to future mining in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Environmentalists worry that allowing more ocean mining could harm fisheries and even affect oceans' ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming. More than 30 countries, as well as fisheries trade groups, environmentalists and some auto and tech companies, have called for a moratorium on seabed mining. 'We're ready for a fight as Trump's dangerous deep-sea mining obsession worsens,' said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'Mining the ocean floor will damage fragile habitat and unique critters we haven't even discovered yet. Island communities depend on healthy oceans and declaring open season on mineral prospecting puts people and wildlife at risk.' Impossible Metals did not immediately respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment. It says on its website that it has developed an autonomous underwater robot that uses artificial intelligence to minimize harm to marine life and habitat. Burgum said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will undertake a multistep evaluation, starting by asking for public input. Opponents say any U.S. approval of deep-sea mining would ignore an ongoing process to adopt international rules for the practice. Most countries in the 1990s joined a United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority to govern seabed mining in international waters. But the U.S. never signed on to the effort, which hasn't yet adopted rules. Countries can approve mining in their own territorial waters, so Impossible Metals wouldn't need permission from the authority. Canada-based The Metals Company has said it plans to apply for permits this year through a U.S. subsidiary to mine in international waters. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Winnipeg Free Press
21-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trump administration will evaluate request to sell leases for seabed mining of critical minerals
The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will consider selling leases to extract minerals from the seabed off the South Pacific island of American Samoa, a potential first step in a wider industry push to allow deep-sea mining that environmentalists oppose because they say it could irreparably harm marine ecosystems. The Department of Interior said it is responding to an April request from California-based company Impossible Metals for a commercial auction. The company wants to mine the ocean floor for deposits of nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fast-track permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in U.S. and international waters. The move comes amid the Trump administration's trade war with China, which controls many critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese used in high-tech manufacturing, including for military uses. 'Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation's resilience and safeguarding our national interests,' Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release. He said the upcoming evaluation could be a prelude to future mining in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Environmentalists worry that allowing more ocean mining could harm fisheries and even affect oceans' ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming. More than 30 countries, as well as fisheries trade groups, environmentalists and some auto and tech companies, have called for a moratorium on seabed mining. 'We're ready for a fight as Trump's dangerous deep-sea mining obsession worsens,' said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'Mining the ocean floor will damage fragile habitat and unique critters we haven't even discovered yet. Island communities depend on healthy oceans and declaring open season on mineral prospecting puts people and wildlife at risk.' Impossible Metals did not immediately respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment. It says on its website that it has developed an autonomous underwater robot that uses artificial intelligence to minimize harm to marine life and habitat. Burgum said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will undertake a multistep evaluation, starting by asking for public input. Opponents say any U.S. approval of deep-sea mining would ignore an ongoing process to adopt international rules for the practice. Most countries in the 1990s joined a United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority to govern seabed mining in international waters. But the U.S. never signed on to the effort, which hasn't yet adopted rules. Countries can approve mining in their own territorial waters, so Impossible Metals wouldn't need permission from the authority. Canada-based The Metals Company has said it plans to apply for permits this year through a U.S. subsidiary to mine in international waters. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
