Natural climate solutions for the United States. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Limiting climate warming to <2C 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 CO2e year-1, the equivalent of 21% of current net annual emissions of the United States. At current carbon market prices (USD 10 per Mg CO2e), 299 Tg CO2e year-1 could be achieved. NCS would also provide air and water filtration, flood control, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience benefits.

published proceedings

  • Sci Adv

altmetric score

  • 732.692

author list (cited authors)

  • Fargione, J. E., Bassett, S., Boucher, T., Bridgham, S. D., Conant, R. T., Cook-Patton, S. C., ... Griscom, B. W.

citation count

  • 218

complete list of authors

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

publication date

  • January 2018