Summary
This comprehensive assessment synthesises bottom-up sectoral estimates and integrated assessment models to quantify cost-effective land-based climate mitigation potential globally at 8–13.8 GtCO₂ eq yr⁻¹ by 2050. The analysis reveals that forests and ecosystem protection contribute approximately 50% of cost-effective potential, with agriculture contributing 35% and demand-side measures 15%. The study emphasises that 80% of identified potential lies in developing countries and least-developed countries, where feasibility barriers related to governance, investment capacity, and socio-cultural conditions pose significant implementation challenges.
UK applicability
The UK, as a developed nation with established governance structures and economic capacity, likely faces lower feasibility barriers than identified in the report's focus on developing countries. The findings on demand-side measures and ecosystem protection may be relevant to UK policy, though country-specific analysis of UK land-based mitigation potential and barriers would be needed to determine precise applicability.
Key measures
Cost-effective mitigation potential (GtCO₂ eq yr⁻¹) at $100/tCO₂ eq threshold; technical potential by land-based measure; regional and country-level feasibility assessment; mitigation efficiency and co-benefits provision
Outcomes reported
The study quantified cost-effective land-based climate mitigation potential at 8–13.8 GtCO₂ eq yr⁻¹ between 2020 and 2050 across 20 measures in >200 countries, and assessed implementation feasibility at the country level. Results show regional variation in potential and identified governance, economic, and socio-cultural barriers to realisation, particularly in developing countries.
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