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The role of soil carbon in natural climate solutions

Author

Listed:
  • D. A. Bossio

    (The Nature Conservancy)

  • S. C. Cook-Patton

    (The Nature Conservancy)

  • P. W. Ellis

    (The Nature Conservancy)

  • J. Fargione

    (The Nature Conservancy)

  • J. Sanderman

    (Woods Hole Research Center)

  • P. Smith

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • S. Wood

    (The Nature Conservancy
    Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies)

  • R. J. Zomer

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • M. Unger

    (Silvestrum Climate Associates LLC)

  • I. M. Emmer

    (Silvestrum Climate Associates LLC)

  • B. W. Griscom

    (Conservation International)

Abstract

Mitigating climate change requires clean energy and the removal of atmospheric carbon. Building soil carbon is an appealing way to increase carbon sinks and reduce emissions owing to the associated benefits to agriculture. However, the practical implementation of soil carbon climate strategies lags behind the potential, partly because we lack clarity around the magnitude of opportunity and how to capitalize on it. Here we quantify the role of soil carbon in natural (land-based) climate solutions and review some of the project design mechanisms available to tap into the potential. We show that soil carbon represents 25% of the potential of natural climate solutions (total potential, 23.8 Gt of CO2-equivalent per year), of which 40% is protection of existing soil carbon and 60% is rebuilding depleted stocks. Soil carbon comprises 9% of the mitigation potential of forests, 72% for wetlands and 47% for agriculture and grasslands. Soil carbon is important to land-based efforts to prevent carbon emissions, remove atmospheric carbon dioxide and deliver ecosystem services in addition to climate mitigation.

Suggested Citation

  • D. A. Bossio & S. C. Cook-Patton & P. W. Ellis & J. Fargione & J. Sanderman & P. Smith & S. Wood & R. J. Zomer & M. Unger & I. M. Emmer & B. W. Griscom, 2020. "The role of soil carbon in natural climate solutions," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(5), pages 391-398, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-020-0491-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0491-z
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