Climate Regulation

SEEA EA

Name Used: Global Climate Regulation Services

Service Category: Regulating and maintenance services

Definition: The ecosystem contributions to reducing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere through the removal (sequestration) of carbon from the atmosphere and the retention (storage) of carbon in ecosystems. These services support the regulation of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans. This is a final ecosystem service.

See Valuation Methods Appendix for Economic Value, Valuation Methods, and Metrics.

Name Used: Local (Micro and Meso) Climate Regulation Services

Service Category: Regulating and maintenance services

Definition: The ecosystem contributions to the regulation of ambient atmospheric conditions, including micro and mesoscale climates, through the presence of vegetation that improves living conditions for people and supports economic production. Examples include the evaporative cooling provided by urban trees ('green space'), the role of urban water bodies ('blue space'), and the contribution of trees in providing shade for humans and livestock. This may be a final or intermediate service.

See Valuation Methods Appendix for Economic Value, Valuation Methods, and Metrics.

Name Used: Rainfall pattern regulation services (at sub- continental scale)

Service Category: Regulating and maintenance services

Definition: Rainfall pattern regulation services are the ecosystem contributions of vegetation, in particular forests, in maintaining rainfall patterns through evapotranspiration at the sub-continental scale. Forests and other vegetation recycle moisture back to the atmosphere where it is available for the generation of rainfall. Rainfall in interior parts of continents fully depends upon this recycling. This may be a final or intermediate service.

See Valuation Methods Appendix for Economic Value, Valuation Methods, and Metrics.

CICES

Name Used: Atmospheric Composition & Conditions

Service Category: Regulation and Maintenance

Definition: Atmospheric Composition and Conditions refers to the role of living systems in regulating the chemical composition of the atmosphere as well as temperature and humidity. This includes the regulation of atmospheric chemicals, measured by the contribution of specific types of living systems to the amounts or concentrations of these chemicals. Similarly, the control of temperature and humidity, including processes like ventilation and transpiration, is also governed by living systems and is quantified by their contributions to specific climatic parameters. These functions highlight the integral role that ecosystems play in maintaining the stability and balance of atmospheric conditions, crucial for both environmental health and human well-being.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: n/a

Metrics: included in definition

Name Used: Regulation of Baseline Flows & Extreme Events

Service Category: Regulation and Maintenance

Definition: Regulation of Baseline Flows and Extreme Events refers to the ecosystem's role in controlling various environmental dynamics and reducing associated risks. This encompasses control of erosion rates, buffering and attenuation of mass movement, hydrological cycle and water flow regulation, as well as storm and fire protection—all of which are measured by metrics like risk reduction and the area protected. Additionally, the regulation extends to the management of mass, liquid, and gaseous flows, quantified by their respective types and amounts. Together, these functions contribute to the stability and resilience of ecosystems against both regular and extreme environmental events.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: n/a

Metrics: included in definition

ESVD 2020

Name Used: Climate regulation

Service Category: Regulating

Definition: Climate regulation as categorized by TEEB in ESVD include C-sequestration, MDS-production, climate regulation (unspecified), microclimate regulation, gas regulation.

Economic Value Calculated: Yes

Valuation Methods: The ESVD 2020 report offers a total of 4,042 value estimates, with 174 specific to climate regulation. See the Valuation Methods Appendix.

Metrics: $/ha/yr; ESVD is working on other qualitative and quantitative metrics.

Name Used: Water; Regulation of water flows

Service Category: Provisioning; Regulating

Definition: Water as categorized by TEEB in ESVD include Drinking water, industrial water, and irrigation water (unnatural), and ‘other’ water. Regulation of water flows include drainage, River discharge, Natural irrigation, Water regulation (unspecified).

Economic Value Calculated: Yes

Valuation Methods: The ESVD 2020 report offers a total of 4,042 value estimates, with 96 specific to water and 64 to regulation of water flows. See the Valuation Methods Appendix.

Metrics: $/ha/yr; ESVD is working on other qualitative and quantitative metrics.

FEMA ESV 2022

Name Used: Climate Regulation

Service Category: Regulating

Definition: Supporting a stable climate at global and local levels through carbon sequestration and other processes

Economic Value Calculated: Yes

Valuation Methods: Avoided Cost

Metrics:

Forests: For calculating the carbon sequestration metrics of forests, coastal wetlands, , an extensive database containing over 6,000 individual carbon values was consulted. From this, four key studies comprising 717 specific carbon sequestration values were selected to construct an average value estimate per acre per year. The valuation was then carried out using the social cost of carbon (SCC), which accounts for the societal impacts of each additional metric ton of carbon emissions, measured in CO2 equivalent (CO2e). The SCC rates are updated by the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and, for this study, the 2020 rate of $51 per metric ton CO2e was used, translating to $195.81 per metric ton of carbon in 2021 USD.

Coastal Wetlands: Carbon sequestration in U.S. coastal wetlands was evaluated using a two-step approach. First, an aggregate database containing over 6,000 carbon values was tapped to estimate average carbon sequestration rates per acre per year, selecting five studies that collectively included 72 individual values. Next, the social cost of carbon (SCC) was applied to attach a dollar value to the sequestration rates. SCC measures the societal costs of each additional metric ton of carbon emissions (CO2e), covering aspects such as agricultural loss, health impacts, and increased disaster risk. It is regularly updated by the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, based on Executive Order 13990.53. For this study, the 2020 SCC rate of $51 per metric ton CO2e was used, equivalent to $195.81 per metric ton of carbon in 2021 USD.

Inland Wetlands, Riparian, Urban Green Open Space, Rural Green Open Space used the same methodology above but with different studies.

IPBES NCP

Name Used: Regulation of climate

Service Category: Regulating NCP (Regulation Of Environmental Processes)

Definition: Climate regulation by ecosystems through positive or negative effects on emissions of greenhouse gases; effects on biophysical feedbacks from vegetation cover to atmosphere; processes involving biogenic volatile organic compounds and regulation of aerosols and aerosol precursors by terrestrial plants and phytoplankton.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: n/a

Metrics: Prevented emissions and uptake of greenhouse gases by ecosystems

Name Used: Regulation of ocean acidification

Service Category: Regulating NCP (Regulation Of Environmental Processes)

Definition: Regulation, by photosynthetic organisms, of atmospheric CO2 concentrations and so seawater pH, which affects associated calcification processes by many marine organisms important to humans.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: n/a

Metrics: Capacity to sequester carbon by marine and terrestrial environments

Name Used: Regulation of freshwater quantity, location and timing

Service Category: Regulating NCP (Regulation Of Environmental Processes)

Definition: Regulation, by ecosystems, of the quantity, location and timing of the flow of surface and groundwater used for drinking, irrigation, transport, hydropower, and as the support of non-material contributions. Regulation of flow to water-dependent natural habitats that in turn positively or negatively affect people downstream, including via flooding; wetlands including ponds, rivers, lakes, swamps. Modification of groundwater levels, which can ameliorate dryland salinization in unirrigated landscapes.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: n/a

Metrics: Ecosystem impact on air-surface-ground water partitioning

ENCORE

Name Used: Climate regulation

Service Category: Regulation & Maintenance

Definition: Provided by nature through the long-term storage of carbon dioxide in soils, vegetable biomass, and the oceans. At a regional level, climate is regulated by ocean currents and winds while, at local and micro-levels, vegetation can modify temperatures, humidity, and wind speeds.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods:

Metrics:

Name Used: Dilution by atmosphere and ecosystems

Service Category: Regulation & Maintenance

Definition: Water, both fresh and saline, and the atmosphere can dilute the gases, fluids, and solid waste produced by human activity.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: Clean sanitation, clean air, clean water

Metrics:

TNFD Environmental Assets & Ecosystem Services

Uses SEEA EA

InVEST

Name Used: Carbon Storage and Sequestration

Service Category: Carbon Storage and Sequestration

Definition: Estimates the amount of carbon currently stored and potentially sequestered over time in a given landscape based on land use/land cover maps.

Economic Value Calculated: Yes

Valuation Methods: Market value or social cost of carbon, annual rate of change, and a discount rate.

Metrics: Amount of carbon stored in four pools (aboveground living biomass, below ground living biomass, soil, dead organic matter), changes in carbon stocks over time.

Name Used: Coastal Blue Carbon

Service Category: Coastal Blue Carbon Storage and Sequestration

Definition: Estimates the amount and value of carbon stored and sequestered in coastal vegetation and wetland habitats, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, over time. The model can also account for disturbances due to climate change and human activities.

Economic Value Calculated: Yes

Valuation Methods: Monetary social value or market price for stored and sequestered carbon.

Metrics: Distribution and abundance of coastal vegetation, habitat-specific carbon stock data, impact of land-cover disturbances on biomass and soil carbon pools, carbon accumulation rates, and estimates of the monetary social value or market price of carbon.

Name Used: Urban Cooling

Service Category: Urban Heat Mitigation

Definition: Estimates the heat mitigation effects of vegetation in urban areas based on factors like shade, evapotranspiration, and albedo. The model calculates an index of heat mitigation and uses it to estimate temperature reduction due to vegetation. It also assesses the value of this service through energy consumption and work productivity.

Economic Value Calculated: Yes

Valuation Methods: Energy consumption and work productivity

Metrics: Index of heat mitigation based on shade, evapotranspiration, albedo, and distance from cooling islands like parks; climate data, land use/land cover data, and optional A/C use data.

Swiss Re BES Index

Name Used: Air Quality & Local Climate

Service Category: Regulating Service

Definition: The capacity of vegetated areas to reduce air pollutant concentration and contribute to climate regulation.

Economic Value Calculated: No

Valuation Methods: n/a

Metrics: Annual Net Primary Production kg C/km2 as an indicator. Rate at which all plants in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy.