ON receiving the course synopsis for ‘Carbon Measurement and Monitoring’, Dr Waseem Razzaq Khan was excited to have the opportunity and responsibility to teach students of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus on this matter.
The senior lecturer in the Department of Forestry Science at UPM’s Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences is an expert in blue carbon, mangrove ecology and REDD+.
REDD+ is an abbreviation for the reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, additional forest-related activities that protect the climate namely sustainable management of forests, the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
Noting how the ‘Carbon Measurement and Monitoring’ course correlates with his expertise, Waseem said he immediately prepared 11 lecture presentations slides.
“I was also looking to interact with the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI) which is a reputed organisation for Carbon and Greenhouse Gas teaching courses to ensure my students were getting the best in line with international standards and quality.
“However, I realised that I have to intermingle with the students first to see whether they are willing to take on this extra burden,” he said.
On March 23 this year, Waseem delivered his first class on the carbon course with six students who were in their fifth semester and final semester.
During his interaction with his students, he realised that they are equipped with an understanding of the basic concept of the role of carbon in forests and climate change.
“This was when I mooted the idea and suggestion for them to take an extra international certificate courses called ‘Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Accounting for Forest Inventories’ from the GHGMI.
“Upon their agreement, I proceeded to apply for scholarships for all of my students from the GHGMI,” he said.
Waseem said he started the few weeks of lecture from basic to complex knowledge so that his students could easily get and absorb his ideas.
On this earth, everything is made up of carbon including the human body and it can be considered an essential element.
Carbon is stored on the planet in solid form like rocks, plants and charcoal whereas only in the atmosphere does carbon exist in gaseous form like carbon dioxide.
For humans, nourishment like food is important and this is the same for trees as they depend on carbon.
“Trees sequestrate or absorb carbon from the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. With the presence of water and light, they make food that is called glucose in a process called photosynthesis.
“To get energy, trees or plants break down glucose and this process is called respiration.
“From young seedlings to mature ones, carbon is stored in trees. When these trees are cut or degraded, the stored carbon becomes part of the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide,” he explained.
Waseem pointed out that it is crucial for carbon balance to be maintained considering that if this balance were not balanced, it would result in different natural disasters.
He said greenhouse gases comprise carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases.
“These gases trap the sunlight and can cause an increment in the temperature of the earth, which is called the greenhouse gas effect.
“The percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 0.04 per cent and it has more capacity to trap heat or sunlight in comparison to other greenhouse gases.
“If solid carbon is degraded on the earth, it increases the percentage of atmospheric carbon that results in the increment of the greenhouse gas effect process.
“Changes in the earth’s temperature can be a reason for climate change,” he explained.
In the last few decades, extreme climate events have been observed due to climate and carbon dioxide is considered as the main culprit.
Waseem said the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) was instrumented in 1992 and enforced in 1994 to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“Two of the important annexes in the UNFCCC are Annex 1 which states countries with obligations to take measures to mitigate the effects of climate change whereas Annex 2 states countries with obligations to provide financing to developing countries for their obligations under the UNFCCC.
“Land use changes, industrialisation, forest degradation and anthropogenic activities are leading responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. To measure and monitor greenhouse gases and carbon, the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has an important role which is an advisory body to UNFCCC.
“The IPCC has set up a “Carbon Accounting” system of three tiers based on available data and capacity,” he said.
To mitigate the climate change effects, Waseem said trees are the best nature-based solution to store carbon in the ecosystem.
He said afforestation, reforestation and tree growth store carbon from the atmosphere whereby this stored carbon can be traded in a process called carbon trading.
He also said carbon trading can be divided into two sections namely carbon cap trade programme and carbon offsetting.
“The carbon cap trade programme is the assignment of an upper threshold limit on the amount of pollutant that can be emitted which is measured in Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) by a country.
“Emission permits or equivalent number of allowances or credits are issued to emit as specific amount of carbon dioxide or cap to the country.
“Meanwhile, trade is the transfer or trade of allowances where excess or unused allowances and credits can be traded to the countries whose emissions have exceeded their assigned cap.
“The purchased allowances can be used to increase the allowance limit by the purchasing country,” he said.
As for carbon offsetting, Waseem said offsets credits for eco-friendly technologies are purchased by developed nations to avoid or substitute reduction in their own emission.
“In order to generate carbon credits through forest ecosystems, a specific process must be followed in accordance with established rules.
“This process involves accurately measuring and monitoring the carbon stock in designated forest areas to determine the amount of carbon that is stored.
“Based on this information, the amount of carbon credits that can be generated can be calculated and these credits can then be traded in the carbon market,” he said.
During the teaching of the carbon course, Waseem revealed that his students were awarded 90 per cent tuition fee off from the GHGMI scholarship for GHG Accounting for Forest Inventories course.
“The international course is currently ongoing, enabling my students to successfully complete the course and obtain the international course certificate. This certificate will prove beneficial for their future,” he said.
One of his students, Chelester Baling said the course provided new knowledge and exposures on carbon trading businesses and its procedure.
“I have truly enjoyed learning this course. Waseem had taught us about the method for carbon quantifying very clearly and made it easy to understand,” he said.
Another student, Nuriana Fatiha said she appreciates how Waseem provides constructive criticism and insights on their projects and written assignments.
“I also appreciate how he collaborated with other departments, administrators and education professionals in the field of study to ensure the success of all students,” she said.
