Summary
This spatially explicit global land-use modelling study projects that without dedicated peatland policy, the land system remains a net CO₂ source throughout the 21st century, contradicting current mitigation pathways. The authors demonstrate that rewetting approximately 60% of presently degraded peatlands, combined with protection of intact peatlands, would allow the land system to become a net carbon sink by 2100 whilst meeting future food and bioenergy demand. The work highlights the critical but previously underestimated role of peatland conservation and restoration in reconciling climate mitigation with land-use planning.
UK applicability
The United Kingdom contains substantial areas of degraded peatland, particularly in upland regions, making the findings directly relevant to UK climate and land-use policy. The study's emphasis on peatland rewetting aligns with emerging UK environmental commitments and offers quantitative support for peatland restoration as a domestic mitigation strategy.
Key measures
CO₂ and greenhouse gas emissions from peatland drainage and degradation; land-system carbon sink/source status by 2100; peatland area requiring rewetting to achieve mitigation targets
Outcomes reported
The study modelled future peatland dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions under a 2 °C climate mitigation pathway, projecting land-system carbon balance to 2100 under various peatland protection and restoration scenarios.
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