Climate Change Bill [HL]

While these trading schemes are designed to reduce emissions—indeed Clause 37(2) makes it clear that anything which reduces emissions is desirable—it is not necessarily emissions alone which need to be addressed but also carbon sequestration. While I realise that it is going to be very difficult for the time being to put in place a trading scheme that recognises increased sequestration, we may just get there one day. Carbon sequestration does not in itself reduce emissions so increased carbon sequestration—for example, by managing soils or afforestation—will for ever be excluded from trading schemes. That seems unfortunate.