Natural climate solutions for the United States

TLDR

Limiting climate warming to <2 °C requires increased mitigation efforts, including land stewardship, whose potential in the United States is poorly understood. We quantified the potential of natural climate solutions (NCS)—21 conservation, restoration, and improved land‑management interventions on natural and agricultural lands—to increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The study assessed these 21 interventions across natural and agricultural lands to estimate their carbon storage and emission‑avoidance potential. The analysis indicates that NCS could sequester up to 1.2 Pg CO₂e yr⁻¹—about 21 % of U.S.

Abstract

Limiting climate warming to <2°C requires increased mitigation efforts, including land stewardship, whose potential in the United States is poorly understood. We quantified the potential of natural climate solutions (NCS)—21 conservation, restoration, and improved land management interventions on natural and agricultural lands—to increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. We found a maximum potential of 1.2 (0.9 to 1.6) Pg CO2e year−1, the equivalent of 21% of current net annual emissions of the United States. At current carbon market prices (USD 10 per Mg CO2e), 299 Tg CO2e year−1 could be achieved. NCS would also provide air and water filtration, flood control, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience benefits.