Summary
This systematic literature review evaluated the feasibility of soil carbon sequestration as a climate change mitigation strategy across 24 European countries. The authors found substantial variation in achievable SCS potentials (0.1–27% of agricultural GHG emissions) depending on national environmental conditions and agricultural practices, with none reaching the 4 per 1000 initiative's target. The analysis highlights the critical importance of country-specific knowledge, standardised measurement methodologies, and consideration of controlling factors and trade-offs for realistic SCS policy implementation.
UK applicability
The United Kingdom, as a European nation with diverse agricultural systems and climate zones, would have been included in or informed by this analysis. The findings suggest UK-specific estimates would be necessary to establish realistic SCS targets and policy pathways, and that any national carbon sequestration programme must account for regional soil types, farming practices, and practical implementation constraints.
Key measures
Annual soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates (expressed as percentage of current agricultural GHG emissions offset); country-specific SCS potential; complexity tier of measurement approaches (tier 1–3)
Outcomes reported
The study quantified country-specific soil carbon sequestration (SCS) potentials for 24 European countries, estimating that between 0.1% and 27% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions could be compensated annually through SCS measures. It assessed the feasibility of achieving the 4 per 1000 initiative's aspirational goal across different national contexts.
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