Green Pulse Podcast (Pt 2): How carbon credits can help save tropical forests

Professor Koh Lian Pin, head of the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions at NUS, talks about the growing appetite for carbon credits help to protect tropical forests, and how Singapore can contribute to their conservation. PHOTO: REUTERS

Updated

Published

Jul 19, 2021, 06:00 PM

Green Pulse Ep 54: How carbon credits can help save tropical forests (Part 2)

11:33 mins

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Carbon credits are gaining traction as companies and countries pledge to have their emissions reach "net-zero", some by 2050 and others later. One source of such credits are forest conservation projects. By protecting forests from being cut down, trees are left to do what they do best: Soak up planet-warming carbon dioxide.

How does this growing appetite for carbon credits help to protect the planet's natural carbon sponges? And how can Singapore, with its proximity to South-east Asia's rich natural habitats, contribute to their conservation?

In the second of a two-part series on carbon credits, The Straits Times environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty discuss the issue with Professor Koh Lian Pin, who heads the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions at the National University of Singapore.

They discuss the following points:

How a new study led by Prof Koh found out where carbon can be "prospected" from around the world (0:52)
How can Singapore and the upcoming carbon marketplace it wants to launch, benefit from these opportunities? (4:39)
Will this demand for carbon credits from forest conservation projects, help to save these habitats from being felled? (7:43)

Listen to Pt 1: Carbon offsets: Are they credit-able?: https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/carbon-offsets-are-they-credit-able…

Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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