Andrea Meza, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Climate change is wreaking havoc on our planet. The current impacts – drought, floods, heatwaves, and other extreme climate events – are causing untold suffering for people, species and ecosystems. The source of this calamity is none other than our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels. The future impacts promise to be much worse.
Decarbonization is shorthand for finding alternative ways of living and working that reduce emissions and capture and store carbon in our soil and vegetation. It requires a radical change in our current economic model which is focused on growth at all costs. We must transform how energy is generated and different sources of energy we use, how we build and move around, and how land resources are managed. Whether we burn fossil fuels directly or purchase carbon-intensive products, we must drastically reduce our consumption or switch to low emission technologies and renewable alternatives.
Agriculture and the land use sector are responsible for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, the bulk of which is attributed to livestock production (methane), chemical fertilizers (nitrous oxide), and the destruction of natural ecosystems (carbon dioxide). Tropical forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate to grow soy for animal feed and to create pastureland for livestock grazing. These changes in land cover are responsible for 14% of carbon emissions and 5% of methane emissions. Deforestation accounts for almost 9 billion tons of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere each year.
At the same time, land-based ecosystems could provide 20 to 30% of the mitigation required to ensure global warming stays below 1.5 degrees Celsius towards 2050. If managed sustainably, land can deliver a powerful climate mitigation solution. But this will require us to urgently rethink the way we approach agriculture and other land use activities.
Glasgow COP26 brought the nature agenda to the heart of climate negotiations. Several initiatives and pledges were launched to promote system change to recognize the value of nature and the important role that healthy oceans and healthy land play to achieve the 1.5 goal, to guarantee water and food security, and to generate resilience. The Leaders Pledge for Nature, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, the Glasgow Forest Pact, among others, have catalyzed actions from communities, cities, countries, citizens, companies, philanthropists to protect and restore critical ecosystems globally. But we’re still far behind of where we need to be
Food systems must be redesigned and redeployed to ensure positive outcomes for nature and climate. A transition to local, plant-based diets, where appropriate, would be a logical first step as nearly 80% of total agricultural land is dedicated to feed and livestock production while providing less than 20% of the world’s food calories.
Over USD 700 billion is paid in agricultural subsidies each year, but only around 15% of this amount positively impacts natural capital, biodiversity, long-term job stability, and livelihoods. Repurposing farm subsidies will encourage large-scale, industrial farmers to adopt more sustainable and climate-friendly food production practices.
Regenerative agriculture enhances soil carbon storage and protects biodiversity. Many smaller scale farmers have already adopted sustainable farming methods focused on soil health. For example, conservation or no-till agriculture increases biomass and soil organic carbon as well as nutrient and water availability through agronomic and other resource-conserving practices. These practices protect soil structure, conserve moisture, suppress weeds and pests, and can create new carbon sinks over longer time scales. We can all do our part by adopting climate-friendly diets, supporting local organic farmers that care for our precious soils and demanding deforestation free products.
Decarbonization cannot wait. We are perilously close to crossing irreversible tipping points. At UNFCCC COP27 in Egypt and at CBD COP 15 in Montreal we must seize the opportunity to change the trajectory we’re on in climate change and in biodiversity loss.
Yes, decarbonization implies transformational change and will require massive investments in science, green and blue technologies and infrastructure, land and soil restoration, renewable energy and sustainable buildings, but our return on investment will be recouped many times over in socioeconomic benefits, jobs and welfare. And it can only be effective if supported by behavioral changes, new policies and regulatory frameworks, greening of financial flows, international cooperation and radical collaboration.