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Soil-Based Emissions and Context-Specific Climate Change Planning to Support the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Climate Action: A Case Study of Georgia (USA)

Author

Listed:
  • Davis G. Nelson

    (Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Elena A. Mikhailova

    (Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Hamdi A. Zurqani

    (University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Arkansas Forest Resources Center, University of Arkansas System, Monticello, AR 71656, USA
    College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, AR 71656, USA)

  • Lili Lin

    (Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou 363000, China)

  • Zhenbang Hao

    (Department of Electronic Information, Zhangzhou Institute of Technology, Zhangzhou 363000, China)

  • Christopher J. Post

    (Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Mark A. Schlautman

    (Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, SC 29625, USA)

  • George B. Shepherd

    (School of Law, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

Abstract

Soil-based emissions from land conversions are often overlooked in climate planning. The objectives of this study were to use quantitative data on soil-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the state of Georgia (GA) (USA) to examine context-specific (temporal, biophysical, economic, and social) climate planning and legal options to deal with these emissions. Currently, 30% of the land in GA has experienced anthropogenic land degradation (LD) primarily due to agriculture (64%). All seven soil orders were subject to various degrees of anthropogenic LD. Increases in overall LD between 2001 and 2021 indicate a lack of land degradation neutrality (LDN) in GA. Besides agricultural LD, there was also LD caused by increased development through urbanization, with 15,197.1 km 2 developed, causing midpoint losses of 1.2 × 10 11 kg of total soil carbon (TSC) with a corresponding midpoint social cost from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions (SC-CO 2 ) of USD $20.4B (where B = billion = 10 9 , $ = U.S. dollars (USD)). Most developments occurred in the Metro Atlanta and Coastal Economic Development Regions, which indicates reverse climate change adaptation (RCCA). Soil consumption from developments is an important issue because it limits future soil or forest carbon (C) sequestration potential in these areas. Soil-based emissions should be included in GA’s carbon footprint. Understanding the geospatial and temporal context of land conversion decisions, as well as the social and economic costs, could be used to create incentives for land management that limit soil-based GHG emissions in a local context with implications for relevant United Nations (UN) initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Davis G. Nelson & Elena A. Mikhailova & Hamdi A. Zurqani & Lili Lin & Zhenbang Hao & Christopher J. Post & Mark A. Schlautman & George B. Shepherd, 2024. "Soil-Based Emissions and Context-Specific Climate Change Planning to Support the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Climate Action: A Case Study of Georgia (USA)," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:10:p:1669-:d:1497980
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Newman, David H. & Brooks, Tommy A. & Dangerfield, Coleman W., 2000. "Conservation use valuation and land protection in Georgia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 1(3-4), pages 257-266, December.
    2. Kevin Rennert & Frank Errickson & Brian C. Prest & Lisa Rennels & Richard G. Newell & William Pizer & Cora Kingdon & Jordan Wingenroth & Roger Cooke & Bryan Parthum & David Smith & Kevin Cromar & Dela, 2022. "Comprehensive evidence implies a higher social cost of CO2," Nature, Nature, vol. 610(7933), pages 687-692, October.
    3. Alex P. Ferguson & Walker S. Ashley, 2017. "Spatiotemporal analysis of residential flood exposure in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 87(2), pages 989-1016, June.
    4. Brayton Noll & Tatiana Filatova & Ariana Need & Alessandro Taberna, 2022. "Contextualizing cross-national patterns in household climate change adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 30-35, January.
    5. Yan Zhou & J. Shepherd, 2010. "Atlanta’s urban heat island under extreme heat conditions and potential mitigation strategies," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 52(3), pages 639-668, March.
    6. Robyn S. Wilson, 2022. "Adaptation is context specific," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 8-9, January.
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