Carbon Removal Using Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems Is Uncertain and Unreliable, With Questionable Climatic Cost-Effectiveness

Frontiers in Climate, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: July 28, 2022

Mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and tidal saltmarshes are vegetated coastal ecosystems that accumulate store large quantities of carbon in their sediments. Many recent studies reviews have favorably identified the potential for such “blue carbon” to provide a natural climate solution two ways: by conservation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions arising from loss degradation habitats, restoration, increase dioxide drawdown its long-term storage. The focus here is on latter, assessing feasibility achieving quantified secure removal (negative emissions) through restoration vegetation. Seven issues affect reliability accounting this approach considered: high variability burial rates; errors determining lateral transport; fluxes methane nitrous oxide; carbonate formation dissolution; vulnerability future change; non-climatic factors. Information costs also reviewed, with conclusion highly uncertain, lower-range estimates unrealistic wider application. CO 2 using blue therefore has questionable cost-effectiveness when considered only as mitigation action, either carbon-offsetting or inclusion Nationally Determined Contributions. important relating measurement storage yet be resolved, affecting certification resulting over-crediting. nevertheless advantageous adaptation, protection, food provision biodiversity conservation. Such action can societally justified very many circumstances, based multiple benefits habitats at local scale.

Language: Английский

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Competing narratives of nature-based solutions: Leveraging the power of nature or dangerous distraction?

Environmental Science & Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 132, P. 273 - 281

Published: March 12, 2022

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly proposed in international environmental governance settings to address the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing inequality. Thus far, scholarly research on NbS has been largely conceptual, empirical from social sciences is widely absent, as insights into narratives that surround them. Using 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit Change Conference (COP 25) a case study, we set out analyze range associated with proposals for (and against) NbS. We used discourse coalition approach, drawing data systematic document analysis public-facing texts actors, expert interviews. Results reveal two central opposing narratives: 1) Leveraging power nature—NbS multifunctional, powerful, must play critical role addressing global challenges, especially change (held by proponents): 2) Dangerous distraction—NbS being co-opted continue what seen unsustainable, unjust, status-quo critics). Both make use ambiguity NbS, though contrasting ways, their respective coalitions reflect reproduce existing fault-lines governance. Our findings indicate that, despite its promise, 'NbS' currently unable foster inclusive participation support transformative change.

Language: Английский

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Informing Nature‐based Climate Solutions for the United States with the best‐available science

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(12), P. 3778 - 3794

Published: March 7, 2022

Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS) are managed alterations to ecosystems designed increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While they have growing public and private support, the realizable benefits unintended consequences of NbCS not well understood. At regional scales where policy decisions often made, estimated from soil tree survey data that can miss important sources sinks within an ecosystem, do reveal biophysical impacts for local water energy cycles. The only direct observations ecosystem-scale fluxes, example, by eddy covariance flux towers, yet been systematically assessed what tell us about potentials, state-of-the-art remote sensing products land-surface models being widely used inform policymaking implementation. As a result, there is critical mismatch between point- tree-scale most assess impacts, ecosystem landscape projects implemented, continental relevant policymaking. Here, we propose research agenda confront these gaps using tools long understand mechanisms driving cycling, but applied NbCS. We outline steps creating robust assessments at both informed observations, which consider concurrent future climate feedbacks, need equitable inclusive implementation strategies. contend goals largely be accomplished shifting pre-existing blended together, although also highlight some opportunities more radical shifts in approach.

Language: Английский

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The concept of 'nature-based solutions' applied to urban coastal risks: A bibliometric and content analysis review

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 261, P. 107530 - 107530

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Language: Английский

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Green, hybrid, or grey disaster risk reduction measures: What shapes public preferences for nature-based solutions?

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 310, P. 114727 - 114727

Published: Feb. 28, 2022

Nature-based solutions (NbS) contrast with grey infrastructure measures to reduce risk from natural hazards. Using and sustainable (green) or combining green elements (hybrid) can provide important co-benefits beyond reduction. Thanks their flexibility across a range of possible climate change futures, NbS are sometimes referred as 'win-win' 'no-regret' measures. The success associated projects often relies on the public for co-creation, co-implementation, long-term use, monitoring, management. However, relative importance benefits is defined by perceptions underlying values stakeholders potentially divergent interests. It unclear what at-risk individuals may prefer green-hybrid-grey spectrum shapes preferences, including perceived potential regret. Identifying (mis)perceptions, expectations, objectives, underlies these inform communication project framing, engagement, ultimately increase acceptance continued uptake NbS. We use citizen surveys at three distinct European sites where being planned in-depth focus groups follow-up in site landslides (Catterline, Scotland). Preferences drivers assessed, focusing effectiveness, risk, nature. find that although wildlife habitat aesthetics important, reducing primary concern. Uncertainty strength effectiveness NbS, one 13 qualitative factors we identify, drives preferences towards hybrid - seen balancing trade-offs. Misperceptions demand information should be addressed experiential learning, combined transparent two-way expectations. urge caution further research regarding emphasizing 'natural' framing when reduction objective.

Language: Английский

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Long-term national climate strategies bet on forests and soils to reach net-zero

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Dec. 7, 2022

Abstract The deployment of carbon dioxide removal is essential to reach global and national net-zero emissions targets, but little attention has been paid its practical by countries. Here, we analyse how methods are integrated into 41 the 50 Long-term Low Emission Development Strategies submitted United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), before 2022. We show that enhancing forest soil sinks most advocated strategies only explicitly quantified in 12. Residual 2050 20 them use forests achieve targets. quantify both residual identify constraints, such as wildfire risks limited geological CO 2 storage capacity. These also highlight need for international cooperation. Taken together, suggest UNFCCC should urgently strengthen reporting requirements long-term climate strategies.

Language: Английский

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Three decades of EU climate policy: Racing toward climate neutrality?

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Oct. 15, 2023

Abstract The European Union (EU) began developing climate policy in the 1990s. Since then, it has built up a broad portfolio of mitigation measures and governance tools, including legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, addressing emissions trading, renewable energy, energy efficiency, more. In 2019, Commission—the EU's executive arm—published Green Deal (EGD), an overarching framework achieve goal neutrality by 2050. EGD aims push EU far beyond incremental development. this article, we ask: does represent break from past patterns governance? We argue that maintains several patterns, but nevertheless breaks other established trends. review insights politicization new institutionalist theoretical lenses help us understand these findings. reveal certain tensions challenges inherent approach—around speed coherence, effectiveness just transition—that highlight future research needs, raise questions about ability implement its goals. This article is categorized under: Policy Governance > Multilevel Transnational Climate Change

Language: Английский

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Quantifying global carbon dioxide removal deployment

Environmental Research Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(2), P. 024022 - 024022

Published: Jan. 18, 2023

Abstract Despite the importance of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in most climate change mitigation scenarios that limit warming to well below 2 °C, study CDR is still a nascent field with basic questions be resolved. Crucially, it not known how much currently deployed at global scale, nor compares scenario estimates. Here, we address this problem by developing an estimate current activity. We draw on national greenhouse gas inventory data combined registries and commercial databases anthropogenic activity presently generates ∼1985 MtCO yr −1 atmospheric removals. Almost all these—1983 —are removals from land-use, land-use forestry. Non-land-management projects such as bioenergy capture storage, direct air storage biochar remove only about . compare Shared Socioeconomic Pathways projections ‘well-below 2°C’ pathways. In so doing demonstrate deployment would need grow exponentially keep world aligned scenarios, which see growing between 75% 100% per year 2020 2030, adding ∼300–2500 total capacity. To conclude discuss uncertainties related our estimates, suggest priorities for future collection management data, particularly role land sink generating CDR.

Language: Английский

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Reviewing the sociotechnical dynamics of carbon removal

Joule, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 57 - 82

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Going beyond market-based mechanisms to finance nature-based solutions and foster sustainable futures

PLOS Climate, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2(4), P. e0000169 - e0000169

Published: April 6, 2023

Failure to address the climate and biodiversity crises is undermining human well-being increasing global inequality. Given their potential for addressing these societal challenges, there growing attention on scaling-up nature-based solutions (NbS). However, are concerns that in its use, NbS concept dissociated with social economic drivers of including pervasive focus market-based mechanisms growth imperative, promoting risk greenwashing. In this perspective, we draw recent research effectiveness, governance, practice highlight key limitations pitfalls a narrow natural capital markets finance scaling up. We discuss need simultaneous push complementary funding examine how financial instruments mechanisms, while important bridge gap reduce reliance public funding, not panacea NbS. Moreover, present significant governance further entrenching power asymmetries. propose four recommendations ensure foster more just, equitable, environmentally sustainable pathways support CBD’s (Convention Biological Diversity) 2050 vision “living harmony nature”. stress must be used distract away from reducing emissions associated fossil fuel use or promote an agenda perpetual call government policy makers decenter GDP as core political target, refocusing instead ecological well-being.

Language: Английский

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