Tools for Setting Reference Emission Levels. A review of existing tools that can be used to set a benchmark for rewarding reduced emissions and increased sequestration of greenhouse gasses in the terrestrial system

One of the key unresolved issues in the United Nations negotiations on the inclusion of terrestrial carbon in the climate change solution is how to set a so-called “reference emission level”. This Policy Brief outlines the policy considerations facing decision-makers (including on scale, scope, and conceptual approach). In the context of those policy considerations, it then analyses various existing tools that can be used to set reference emission levels. Finally it draws conclusions about the ability of the existing tools to meet policy needs and about data that are required for setting reference emission levels regardless of the detailed rules.