New research highlights that adopting green wastewater treatment strategies in the U.S., supported by carbon financing, could save $15.6 billion and cut nearly 30 million tons of CO2 emissions over four decades. Credit: Colorado State University
Using carbon financing to develop wastewater infrastructure could result in savings of $15.6 billion and nearly 30 million tons of emissions over 40 years.
Researchers have demonstrated that adopting eco-friendly wastewater treatment methods in the U.S., which utilize carbon financing, could lead to savings of approximately $15.6 billion and reduce CO2-equivalent emissions by nearly 30 million tons over a span of 40 years.
The comprehensive findings from Colorado State University were highlighted in with the National Science Foundation to further develop the needed carbon credit methodology with stakeholders.
“This is the first time we are considering air and water quality simultaneously – water is local and carbon is global,” he said. “But by bringing these market mechanisms together we can capitalize on a window of opportunity to accelerate the improvement of America’s rivers as we transition to a renewable energy and restored watershed future.”
Reference: “The potential of carbon markets to accelerate green infrastructure based water quality trading” by Braden J. Limb, Jason C. Quinn, Alex Johnson, Robert B. Sowby and Evan Thomas, 15 April 2024, Communications Earth & Environment.
DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01359-x
