April 01, 2019

Natural Climate Solutions Are Not Enough

2 minutes

A new policy perspective published in Science by researchers at seven prestigious institutions looked at the role of natural science solutions in stabilizing the Earth’s climate for people and ecosystems. While they asserted that it is imperative to ramp up natural climate solutions, they also concluded that natural solutions alone will not be sufficient.

Natural science solutions include such things as enhancing carbon

sinks from forests, agriculture and other lands. Doing these things are very beneficial in

their own right as they lead to improved forests, croplands, grazing lands, and

wetlands.

However, these things will not be enough to meet the goals of the

Paris Climate Agreement and must be combined with rapid efforts to decrease

emissions from the energy and industrial sectors. Among their various findings, the researchers

warn that a ten-year delay in emissions reductions from these sectors could

completely negate any potential benefits of natural climate solutions.

As has become increasingly clear, there is not an either-or situation

with regard to the actions that need to be taken with respect to climate

change.

Maximizing natural climate solutions and reducing emissions from the

energy and industrial sectors will provide broad benefits beyond climate change

mitigation. Doing these things will

improve forests and habitats, reduce the risk of wildfires, and decrease air and

water pollution thereby improving human health and well-being.

Of course, to reduce cumulative emissions and put a cap on the warming of the planet, there will need to be policy mechanisms and incentives in place that support both natural climate solutions and increasing mitigation efforts across the energy and industrial sectors.

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Natural Climate Solutions Are Not Enough

Photo, posted February 11, 2012, courtesy of Joao Andre O. Dias via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

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