5. Reliance on afforestation to offset carbon emissions
Risk Title and Description
Land Use Change to offset emissions.
Service: Net Zero & Business
Date identified: 15 June 2022
Owner: Net Zero Project Manager
Target implementation date: 2030
Potential Causes:
- Additional planting of trees causes land use change, removing play areas and other valued land uses
- Impact of Ash die back on existing tree canopy decreasing carbon stored in ECC trees
Potential Impacts:
- High expenditure from afforestation
- Planting trees isn’t reducing emissions, therefore masks existing emissions
Existing Mitigations & Control
What has been done to control the risk?
- GHG emission savings vary depending on planting of different biomass
- Carbon Footprint Report set outs definitions of quality criteria needed for offset projects and to use where emissions are unavoidable
- iTree eco report exploring the Exeter's trees' potential to influence net zero balances commissioned
Further Mitigations & Controls to be put into place
- P&GS and Planning working on Local Infrastructure Plan which will allocate land for offsetting, Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) and Biodiversity Net Gain BNG
Notes
Relationship with DWT is key to success.
Risk scores
| Risk | Score |
| Likelihood | 3 |
| Impact | 3 |
| Risk score | 9 |
| Risk | Score |
| Likelihood | 2 |
| Impact | 2 |
| Risk score | 4 |