What is the potential for additional sequestration to offset greenhouse gas emissions?
At the global level, the IPCC Third Assessment Report estimates about 100 billion metric tons of carbon over the next 50 years could be sequestered through forest preservation, tree planting and improved agricultural management. This would offset 10-20% of the world’s projected fossil fuel emissions. For the U.S., some analyses (e.g., McCarl and Schneider 2001) suggest that between 50 and 150 million metric tons of additional carbon sequestration per year could be achieved through changes in agricultural soil and forest management, tree planting, and biofuel substitution. These particular results consider the financial incentive to improve land-use practices at prices of, respectively, $10 and $50 per metric ton of additional carbon stored. For more information on analyses of the potential for additional sequestration in the U.S., visit the National Analysis section of this Web site.
