The urgency or reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases is now well-established, highlighted by plans in many countries to reach Net-Zero emissions by 2050 or earlier to stabilise the global climate. The emphasis now is on pathways to Net-Zero to meet the scale of the challenge. The land sector has a particularly key role in these pathways because of its role in storing and sequestering carbon although at present it is also a large source of greenhouse gases from agriculture. Carbon sequestration can occur through forests and organic soils (notably peat) in addition to coastal/marine habitats (saltmarsh, seagrass etc.).

I am currently involved in investigating different pathways for reaching Net-Zero including the effects on ongoing climate change and the co-benefits from initiatives such as peatland restoration, afforestation or coastal/marine management schemes. This work aims to identify the key role of spatial targeting and related schemes such as carbon certification in achieving realistic steps towards decarbonisation.

References

Brown I (2020) Challenges in delivering climate change policy through land use targets for afforestation and peatland restoration. Environmental Science & Policy 107, 36-45. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2020.02.013

Brown I (2020) Evaluating wider benefits of Low-Carbon farming practices. Report to UK Committee on Climate Change

Brown, I, Castellazzi, M, Feliciano D (2014) Comparing path dependence and spatial targeting of land use in the implementation of climate change responses. Land 3(3), 850-873.

Brown I. (2006). Modelling future landscape change on coastal floodplains. Environmental Modelling & Software, 21, 1479-1490.