Contribution of the land sector to a 1.5 °C world

Published by BC3Research Maria Jose Sanz at October 22, 2019

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Roe, S., Streck C., Obserteiner M., Frank S., Griscom B., Drouet L., Fricko O., Gusti M., Harris N., Hasegawa T., Hausfather Z., Havlík P., House J., Nabuurs G-J., popp A., Sanz M.J., Sanderman J., Smith P., Stehfest E,. Lawrence D. 2019.Contribution of the land sector to a 1.5 °C world. Nature Climate Change. 9, 817–828. DOI (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0591-9)

Abstract

The Paris Agreement introduced an ambitious goal of limiting warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Here we combine a review of modelled pathways and literature on mitigation strategies, and develop a land-sector roadmap of priority measures and regions that can help to achieve the 1.5 °C temperature goal. Transforming the land sector and deploying measures in agriculture, forestry, wetlands and bioenergy could feasibly and sustainably contribute about 30%, or 15 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) per year, of the global mitigation needed in 2050 to deliver on the 1.5 °C target, but it will require substantially more effort than the 2 °C target. Risks and barriers must be addressed and incentives will be necessary to scale up mitigation while maximizing sustainable development, food security and environmental co-benefits.