‘Boost Goa forest cover to 75% from 66% for net-zero gain’

Panaji: The total forest cover of the state must be expanded to 75% from the current 66% to make the state net zero by compensating for the residual emissions of 3.5 million tonnes. This was discussed at a stakeholders’ consultation on the technical analysis to enable low-carbon and climate-resilient development in Goa.
The event was organised by the state government and the World Bank on Friday.
It is estimated that by 2050, about 3.5 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) residual emissions will emerge, mostly from freight and air transport.
Anindya Bhattacharya of Celestial Earth, a consultant of the World Bank, said, “Given the type of forest or green cover in Goa, the state needs an additional 8% of the land area to be covered under moderate dense forest (MDF) or open forest (OF) categories.”
Bhattacharya said that Goa needs an optimal portfolio of carbon sequestration from different ecosystems such as rivers, oceans, and mangroves. Carbon sequestration means the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Combination of natural sequestration, carbon offset, and green credits will be required,” he said.
The stakeholders also noted that Goa needs village-level assessments of natural resources (biomass, water, agri-land, and solar energy), the development of a multicriteria vulnerability index using a machine-learning approach, and the identification of the top 10 villages for the solar roof-top programme.
“The transport sector will become the major source of emissions in the state by 2050 with more than a 60% share,” Bhattacharya said. “Emissions from the power sector are primarily due to its thermal sources. Industrial emissions are spurred by fuels such as coal, high-speed diesel, and furnace oil.”
By 2050, electricity will become the major source of energy in the state, followed by bioenergy. Oil remains in the system but mainly for freight transportation. The stakeholders observed that different forms of bioenergy (such as biofuel and compressed biogas) have become prominent.
Goa Coastal and Environment Management Society will set up a fund with the assistance of the World Bank and take up the task of preparing a study to design the fund’s framework without any cost to the Goa government.
A study will be conducted on baseline assessments for Goa of the current climate risks and vulnerabilities, the state’s emissions profile and trends, and its climate commitments and policies, and institutional frameworks.