Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Unlike CO 2 , methane emissions have a particularly large short-term effect on temperature. We argue that these largely temporary temperature effects of methane emissions are apt to be offset by temporary CO 2 removal. Temporally matching offsetting temperature reductions to the temperature impulse of methane eliminates the sizable intertemporal welfare transfers that occur when methane is offset by equivalent permanent CO 2 removals. Assessing equivalence based on avoided economic damages suggests that about 87 temporary CO 2 removals over a period of 30 years are needed to offset 1 t of methane. Agreement on the appropriate quantity of temporary CO 2 offsets is insensitive to controversial parameters such as the social discount rate, climate damages and future emission scenarios. Short-term monitoring periods of 20–30 years are likely to be more credibly enforceable for various nature-based CO 2 removal projects than long-term monitoring requirements.
Source: Nature Climate Change
Authors: Frank Venmans, Wilfried Rickels, Ben Groom
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $12,690
Funders: London School of Economics and Political Science, UK Research and Innovation, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, Natural Environment Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W4417031875