Natural climate solutions for the United States.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30443593.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aat1869 and PMC identifier 6235523.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Limiting climate warming to <2°C requires increased mitigation efforts, including land stewardship, whose potential in the United States is poorly understood. We quantified the potential of natural climate solutions (NCS)-21 conservation, restoration, and improved land management interventions on natural and agricultural lands-to increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. We found a maximum potential of 1.2 (0.9 to 1.6) Pg CO<sub>2</sub>e year<sup>-1</sup>, the equivalent of 21% of current net annual emissions of the United States. At current carbon market prices (USD 10 per Mg CO<sub>2</sub>e), 299 Tg CO<sub>2</sub>e year<sup>-1</sup> could be achieved. NCS would also provide air and water filtration, flood control, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience benefits.