Natural climate solutions for the United States

Joseph E. Fargione; Steven Bassett; Timothy Boucher; Scott D. Bridgham; Richard T. Conant; Susan C. Cook-Patton; Peter W. Ellis; Alessandra Falcucci; James W. Fourqurean; Trisha Gopalakrishna; Huan Gu; Benjamin Henderson; Matthew D. Hurteau; Kevin D. Kroeger; Timm Kroeger; Tyler J. Lark; Sara M. Leavitt; Guy Lomax; Robert I. McDonald; Patrick Megonigal; Daniela A. Miteva; Curtis J. Richardson; Jonathan Sanderman; David Shoch; Seth A. Spawn; Joseph W. Veldman; Christopher A. Williams; Peter B. Woodbury; Chris Zganjar; Marci Baranski; Patricia Elias; Richard A. Houghton; Emily Landis; Emily McGlynn; William H. Schlesinger; Juha V. Siikamaki; Ariana Sutton-Grier; Bronson W. Griscom

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aat1869

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Natural climate solutions for the United States

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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 2 e year −1 , the equivalent of 21% of current net annual emissions of the United States. At current carbon market prices (USD 10 per Mg CO 2 e), 299 Tg CO 2 e year −1 could be achieved. NCS would also provide air and water filtration, flood control, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience benefits.

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Joseph E. Fargione, Steven Bassett, Timothy Boucher, Scott D. Bridgham, Richard T. Conant, Susan C. Cook-Patton, Peter W. Ellis, Alessandra Falcucci, James W. Fourqurean, Trisha Gopalakrishna, Huan Gu, Benjamin Henderson, Matthew D. Hurteau, Kevin D. Kroeger, Timm Kroeger, Tyler J. Lark, Sara M. Leavitt, Guy Lomax, Robert I. McDonald, Patrick Megonigal, Daniela A. Miteva, Curtis J. Richardson, Jonathan Sanderman, David Shoch, Seth A. Spawn, Joseph W. Veldman, Christopher A. Williams, Peter B. Woodbury, Chris Zganjar, Marci Baranski, Patricia Elias, Richard A. Houghton, Emily Landis, Emily McGlynn, William H. Schlesinger, Juha V. Siikamaki, Ariana Sutton-Grier, Bronson W. Griscom. 2018. Natural climate solutions for the United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aat1869

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