Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

The role of soil carbon in natural climate solutions

Déborah Bossio, Susan C. Cook‐Patton, Peter W. Ellis, Joseph Fargione, Jonathan Sanderman, Pete Smith, Stephen A. Wood, Robert J. Zomer, M. Unger, I.M. Emmer, Bronson W. Griscom

Nature Sustainability · 2020

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Summary

This Nature Sustainability review, authored by an international consortium of soil scientists and climate specialists, examines soil carbon sequestration as a component of natural climate solutions. The paper synthesises current understanding of soil carbon dynamics in agricultural systems and evaluates the realistic potential and limitations of soil-based carbon management for climate change mitigation. As suggested by the authorship and journal scope, the work likely addresses both the biophysical potential and the practical, economic, and policy barriers to deploying soil carbon strategies at scale.

UK applicability

The findings are likely applicable to UK farming policy and practice, particularly regarding soil management under the Environmental Land Management schemes and carbon accounting frameworks. UK agricultural soils represent a significant resource for carbon sequestration, though the paper's global scope would need contextualisation for specific UK pedoclimatic and farming system conditions.

Key measures

Soil carbon sequestration rates, mitigation potential, greenhouse gas abatement, feasibility constraints, scalability of soil carbon interventions

Outcomes reported

The study examined the potential role of soil carbon sequestration in natural climate solutions and assessed the feasibility and limitations of soil carbon as a mitigation pathway. It synthesised evidence on the contribution of agricultural soil carbon management to global emissions reduction targets.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1038/s41893-020-0491-z
Catalogue ID
BFmovi23dp-k41vnn

Topic tags

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