CO2 RCC Tool

The LIFE ClimaTree project aims to contribute towards the development of a novel methodology and an innovative tool for the quantification of carbon storage in permanent tree-crops. The European Parliament and the Council have invited the Commission to assess the possibilities for inclusion of LULUCF into the EU's climate policy and if necessary put forward a legislative proposal (Article 9 of Decision 406/2009/EC) . In addition according to "Article 3 of Decision No 529/2013/EU" all member states shall prepare and maintain annual accounts that accurately reflect all emissions and removals including those of cropland management activities.

The primary objective of LIFE CLIMATREE is: 

•  to improve and update the estimated carbon sink accounting within EU through the inclusion of the calculated tree-crop capacity (CO2 t/y). An improved estimation of the carbon sink could support mitigation actions at local regional and European levels.
• to estimate the socioeconomic benefit of tree crops' carbon storage and to evaluate the economic dimensions under different climatic and economic scenarios.
• to improve the design and efficacy of Union’s environmental and climate policy and legislation. In particular, the methodology developed through LIFE CLIMATREE will complement LULUCF while it will also provide a substantial contribution towards the Kyoto Convention targets. In this way, LIFE CLIMATREE will contribute to:
• sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy and of relevant Union environment and climate strategies and plans.
• to act as a catalyst for, and promote, the integration and mainstreaming of carbon sink objective into Agricultural Sector and its Stakeholders and Decision makers (Common Agricultural Policy, the relevant national public authorities and farmers communities).
• to provide a more accurate and increased baseline for carbon sink, and to improve this way the knowledge base for the monitoring and evaluation of effective climate change mitigation actions and measures.
• to improve Agricultural and Environmental Policies at the micro level and to provide a tool for supporting the evaluation of investments related to tree crops.