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Soil carbon is the blind spot of European national GHG inventories

Author

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  • Valentin Bellassen

    (CESAER UMR1041, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté)

  • Denis Angers

    (Université Laval and AAFC)

  • Tomasz Kowalczewski

    (COWI)

  • Asger Olesen

    (FSC International)

Abstract

Soil carbon is currently being monitored in European national greenhouse-gas (GHG) inventories. Reviewing the data and methods, we find that unreported losses could be around 70 MtCO2 yr–1 in croplands, and unreported gains could be around 15 MtCO2 yr–1 in grasslands and 45 MtCO2 yr–1 in forests. The share of European Union (EU) forest area for which soil carbon is being accurately reported is at most 33%, and more likely close to 24%. Accuracy is even worse for grasslands and croplands. Widespread adoption of key carbon-farming practices (peatland restoration, agroforestry, substituting maize with grass) could remove an additional 150–350 MtCO2 yr–1. Yet, if effective policies lead to realizing this potential, current GHG inventories would not capture their climate mitigation benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentin Bellassen & Denis Angers & Tomasz Kowalczewski & Asger Olesen, 2022. "Soil carbon is the blind spot of European national GHG inventories," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(4), pages 324-331, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1038_s41558-022-01321-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01321-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Jantiene E. M. Baartman & Joao Pedro Nunes & Hedwig van Delden & Roel Vanhout & Luuk Fleskens, 2022. "The Effects of Soil Improving Cropping Systems (SICS) on Soil Erosion and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks across Europe: A Simulation Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-28, June.
    2. Yue Wang & Imke J. M. Boer & U. Martin Persson & Raimon Ripoll-Bosch & Christel Cederberg & Pierre J. Gerber & Pete Smith & Corina E. Middelaar, 2023. "Risk to rely on soil carbon sequestration to offset global ruminant emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Lyndré Nel & Ana Flávia Boeni & Viola Judit Prohászka & Alfréd Szilágyi & Eszter Tormáné Kovács & László Pásztor & Csaba Centeri, 2022. "InVEST Soil Carbon Stock Modelling of Agricultural Landscapes as an Ecosystem Service Indicator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.

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