Natural Climate Solutions: Feasible or Fantasy?

ESPP 90M Subject & Catalog Number

Description

“Natural climate solutions” are a set of conservation, restoration and improved land management actions that have been championed as low-cost, easy-to-implement sources of climate mitigation. Some have claimed that natural climate solutions can offer more than 30% of the required mitigation of “near-term” carbon emissions to hold global warming below 2°C. Others have criticized these claims for overstating the potential of biological carbon sinks, arguing that the advocates for natural climate solutions are motivated by conservation of biodiversity rather than mitigation of climate change. The significant role played by ecosystems in the carbon cycle makes natural climate solutions critical options for climate mitigation, yet there are many questions and uncertainties surrounding how best to utilize them. In this course, we will explore various dimensions of natural climate solutions, including reduced deforestation, reforestation, afforestation, wetlands restoration, biochar, no-till agriculture and other farming practices to increase carbon content of soils. We will examine the feasibility and potential limitations of each proposed action to deliver real climate impact. We will also explore policy dimensions for encouraging such efforts through direct subsidies, regulation, or integration into carbon pricing regimes including carbon offsets. By the end of the semester, we hope that all participants will have a clearer understanding of the potential role for natural climate solutions in national and international climate mitigation strategies.