Land is a critical resource......As the world population increases and the negative impacts of climate change become more evident, land needs to remain healthy and productive to maintain ecological balance, biodiversity and food security. The IPCC Special Report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems points out that the world is best placed to tackle climate change when there is an overall focus on sustainability.“Land plays an important role in the climate system. Agriculture, forestry and other types of land use account for 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, natural land processes absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to almost a third of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry.”.....Jim Skea, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III
According to the SRCCL Report, land acts as both a source and a sink of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), and plays a key role in the exchange of energy, water and aerosols between the land surface and atmosphere. Around 23% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry and other land uses. Emissions are mainly due to deforestation, partly offset by afforestation and reforestation. Agriculture is responsible for about half of anthropogenic methane emissions and is the main source of nitrous oxide, both strong greenhouse gasses. At the same time, the terrestrial biosphere absorbs almost 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions thanks to natural processes. However, this function is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as increased drought and wildfires, and other environmental and human pressures. Finally, changes in land use modify the biophysical properties of the earth’s surface, like energy and water balance, which lead to further variations in temperature and precipitation on a local scale. Land is currently experiencing growing pressure due to human activities at a global level, in addition to the pressure brought by climate change. Land represents the primary basis for human livelihoods and well-being, supplying food, freshwater and multiple other elements, as well as being the cradle of biodiversity.
In August 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world body for assessing the state of scientific knowledge related to climate change, its impacts and potential future risks, and possible response options, approved and published the Summary for Policymakers of the Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL). The Report shows that an improved land management can contribute to tackling climate change, but is not the only solution. In 2015, world governments endorsed the Paris Agreement with the goal of strengthening the global response to climate change, aiming to restrict the increase in the global average temperature. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors is essential if global warming is to be kept to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and striving to limit the increase to 1.5°C. As the world population increases and the negative impacts of climate change become more evident, land needs to remain healthy and productive to maintain ecological balance, biodiversity and food security.
Land is a critical resource.......The IPCC Special Report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems points out that the world is best placed to tackle climate change when there is an overall focus on sustainability.“Land plays an important role in the climate system. Agriculture, forestry and other types of land use account for 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, natural land processes absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to almost a third of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry.”--Jim Skea, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III. According to the SRCCL Report, land acts as both a source and a sink of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), and plays a key role in the exchange of energy, water and aerosols between the land surface and atmosphere. Around 23% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry and other land uses. Emissions are mainly due to deforestation, partly offset by afforestation and reforestation. Agriculture is responsible for about half of anthropogenic methane emissions and is the main source of nitrous oxide, both strong greenhouse gasses. At the same time, the terrestrial biosphere absorbs almost 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions thanks to natural processes. However, this function is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as increased drought and wildfires, and other environmental and human pressures. Finally, changes in land use modify the biophysical properties of the earth’s surface, like energy and water balance, which lead to further variations in temperature and precipitation on a local scale......there's a lot more- read on https://www.climateforesight.eu/articles/land-and-climate-change-a-close-connection/