TIME TO PLANT TREES NOT TEA! This is a thread on the complicated discussion around Carbon credits.

Carbon credits are a type of tradeable certificate that represents a certain amount of carbon dioxide emissions that have been reduced or offset (World Bank, 2018).

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By planting trees, farmers in Kenya can earn carbon credits by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis (IPCC, 2006). The carbon credits can then be sold to companies or individuals looking to offset their own emissions (World Bank, 2018)

 

This provides an additional source of income for the farmers. For example, let’s say a farmer in Kenya plants 1,000 trees on their land (Mugo, 2019). For context, 1,000 trees fit on 1/4 acre.

Over the course of a year, each tree will absorb an average of 48 pounds of carbon dioxide (EPA, 2021).

 

This means that the farmer’s 1,000 trees will have offset 48,000 pounds of carbon dioxide over the year. At a carbon credit price of $15 per ton (World Bank, 2018), this means that the farmer would earn approximately $1,080 from their 1,000 trees in one year.

 

In comparison, the average price for a kilogram of tea in Kenya is around $0.5 (UNCTAD, 2019). This means that a farmer growing tea on 1 hectare of land would earn around $2,250 per year. RECALL: 1,000 trees in 1/4 acre vs tea in 1 hectare which is 2.5 acres.

 

 

However, the earnings from carbon credits are more stable and consistent than the earnings from growing tea, which can be affected by factors such as weather and market prices (Mugo, 2019).

In addition to the financial benefits, planting trees also has many environmental benefits (IPCC, 2006). Trees help to improve air and water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce the impact of climate change (EPA, 2021).

 

Overall, carbon credits provide a win-win solution for farmers in Kenya by providing them with a stable source of income while also helping to combat climate change trees. #carboncredits #kenya #trees So, mtapanda mti ama chai?

Credits @TaitaNgetich