What Needs To Be Done?

This:

On a societal level, we need to show support for policies and practices that advance and prioritize the following goals.

• Stop the emission of greenhouse gases

  There are four areas of human activity that contribute ~84% of current emissions: electricity production, food/agriculture/land use, industry, and transportation.

  WE NEED TO:

  • quickly switch to 100% renewable energy [why]

  • address refrigerants

  • address food waste, and shift to a more plant-based diet

  • shift energy sources and electrify everything [why]

  • enhance energy, storage, and production efficiency

  [Read about solutions in more detail here.]

• Support land, coastal, and ocean sinks

  Land and water play a critical role in the climate system, and plants and healthy ecosystems are great at absorbing and storing carbon.

  TO ASSUE CONTINUED CARBON SEQUESTERING, WE NEED TO:

  • Protect and Restore Ecosystems

    • mainland: protect grasslands and forests so that soil and vegetation can do their thing - naturally capture and store carbon;

    • coastline: mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows support photosynthesis and carbon storage [read about the Blue Carbon Initiative]

  • Shift Agriculture Practices

    • mainland: what and how we grow or harvest has direct effect on the carbon cycle so focus on regenerative agricultural practices is pivotal [read about regenerative agriculture here, here, and in this in-depth PDF]

    • coastline: regenerative practices can support carbon sink capabilities of seaweed and kelp, while providing food and fiber

  • Use Degraded Land

    • degraded lands can be used for increasing carbon-capturing soil and biomass, while producing food, wood, or fiber

We KNOW what works.

This image by Project Drawdown provides a good breakdown of current sources of emission, natural sinks, and the whopping ~59% that remains in the atmosphere.

Conclusion:

1. Stop the emission of greenhouse gasses (carbon dioxide & methane) into the atmosphere

2. Support natural sinks that bind them out of the atmosphere.