Nature-based carbon removal can help protect us from a warming planet


Date:
March 29, 2022
Source:
Simon Fraser University
Summary:
A new study finds that temporary nature-based carbon removal
can lower global peak warming levels but only if complemented by
ambitious fossil fuel emission reductions.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study finds that temporary nature-based carbon removal can lower
global peak warming levels but only if complemented by ambitious fossil
fuel emission reductions.


========================================================================== Nature-based climate solutions aim to preserve and enhance carbon
storage in terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems and could be a potential contributor to Canada's climate change mitigation strategy. "However,
the risk is that carbon stored in ecosystems could be lost back to the atmosphere as a result of wildfires, insect outbreaks, deforestation or
other human activities," says Kirsten Zickfeld, a distinguished professor
of climate science in Simon Fraser University's Department of Geography
who is on the research team.

The researchers used a global climate model to simulate temperature
change through two scenarios ranging from weak to ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions. In the relatively weak emissions reduction scenario, carbon emissions continue through 2100. In the ambitious scenario carbon emissions reach net-zero by 2050.

In order to meet the Paris Agreement's climate goals, the world will need
to reach net-zero CO2 emissions around or before mid-century, according
to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

In both scenarios, it is assumed that carbon storage through nature-based climate solutions is temporary as forests are vulnerable to both natural
and human disturbances. Therefore, nature-based climate solutions are anticipated to withdraw carbon from the atmosphere over the next 30 years
then slowly release the carbon during the second half of the century.

The team found that in a scenario with carbon emissions decreasing
rapidly to net-zero, temporary nature-based carbon storage can decrease
the level of peak warming. However, in a scenario with continued carbon emissions temporary nature-based carbon storage would serve only to
delay the temperature increase.

"Our study shows that nature-based carbon storage, even if temporary,
can have tangible climate benefits, but only if implemented alongside
a rapid transition to zero fossil-fuel emissions," says Zickfeld.

The findings are published in Communications Earth & Environment.

Zickfeld is also the lead author of the recent United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I
contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report released in summer 2021,
and the IPCC's 2018 special report on the global warming of 1.5 degrees.

The researchers also note that investing in protecting and restoring
nature offers social and environmental benefits for local and Indigenous communities beyond storing carbon to mitigate climate change. They add
that biodiversity, water and air quality are inherently valuable and that efforts to enhance these can also help to build community resilience to
climate change.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Simon_Fraser_University. Original
written by Melissa Shaw. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
*
YouTube_video:_Nature-based_carbon_removal_can_help_protect_us_from_a
warming_planet ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. H. Damon Matthews, Kirsten Zickfeld, Mitchell Dickau, Alexander J.

MacIsaac, Sabine Mathesius, Claude-Michel Nzotungicimpaye,
Amy Luers.

Temporary nature-based carbon removal can lower peak warming
in a well- below 2 DEGC scenario. Communications Earth &
Environment, 2022; 3 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s43247-022-00391-z ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220329114742.htm

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