A climate change solution that's right under our feet | Asmeret Asefaw Berhe

Summary

Soil, a critical yet undervalued resource, holds the key to combating climate change. Containing 315 times more carbon than our atmosphere, it acts as a natural carbon bank. By adopting climate-smart land management practices, we can enhance soil's carbon sequestration, mitigate climate change, and ensure food security. The '4 per 1000' initiative exemplifies a global effort to increase soil carbon storage, potentially offsetting a significant portion of global emissions.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Soil is a crucial solution to climate change, holding the power to combat global warming.
• 🌱 Soil covers the Earth's surface and is the difference between a thriving ecosystem and lifelessness.
• 🌡️ Climate change is happening due to the increasing amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
• 🌿 Half of the carbon released by human activities is currently being absorbed by land and seas through carbon sequestration.
• 🚫 Soil degradation is a significant issue, with human actions such as deforestation and intensive agriculture contributing to the problem.
• 🌱 There are approximately 3000 billion metric tons of carbon stored in the soil, which is 315 times more than what we emit annually.
• 🌳 Soil is not just a carbon storage; it functions like a bank, with carbon inputs from photosynthesis and outputs from decomposition.
• 🌱 Healthy soil that stores more carbon is also more fertile and supports a diverse range of life, including food production.
• ❄️ Permafrost in high latitudes stores a significant amount of carbon, but it's at risk of being released due to global warming.
• 🌱 Climate-smart land management practices can help mitigate climate change and soil degradation, such as reducing tillage and using compost.
• 🌟 The '4 per 1000' initiative aims to increase soil carbon storage, which could offset a significant portion of global emissions.

Q & A

What is the significance of soil in addressing climate change?

Soil is crucial in addressing climate change because it has the capacity to sequester carbon, acting as a natural carbon sink. It can store vast amounts of carbon, more than what is found in vegetation and the atmosphere combined, making it a key player in mitigating the effects of climate change.

How much carbon dioxide has the Earth's atmosphere accumulated due to human activities?

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has increased by 40 percent in the last 150 years or so, primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and intensive agricultural practices.

What is the role of carbon sequestration in the context of the Earth's atmosphere?

Carbon sequestration is a process where carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in natural reservoirs like soil and the oceans. It plays a vital role in mitigating climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Why is soil often overlooked as a solution to climate change?

Soil is often overlooked because it is a relatively invisible and slow-acting solution compared to more immediate and visible actions like reducing fossil fuel emissions. However, it is a critical and long-term solution that can have significant impacts on carbon storage and climate change mitigation.

What are the consequences of soil degradation on climate change?

Soil degradation reduces the soil's ability to sequester carbon, leading to increased carbon dioxide emissions. It also compromises the soil's fertility, which affects food production and the ability to support diverse ecosystems.

How much carbon is stored in the soil compared to the atmosphere?

There is about three thousand billion metric tons of carbon in the soil, which is roughly 315 times the amount of carbon that we release into the atmosphere annually.

What is the '4 per 1000' initiative and how does it relate to soil and climate change?

The '4 per 1000' initiative is a global effort that aims to increase the amount of carbon stored in soil by 0.4 percent annually through climate-smart land management practices. This can help offset a significant portion of global emissions and improve soil health.

How does soil degradation affect food and nutritional security?

Degraded soils have a diminished potential to support plant productivity, which compromises our ability to provide food and other resources necessary for human populations and ecosystems.

What are some climate-smart land management practices that can help combat soil degradation and climate change?

Climate-smart land management practices include planting deep-rooted perennial plants, reforestation, reducing tillage, optimizing the use of agricultural chemicals and grazing, and adding organic matter to the soil.

What is the potential impact of thawing permafrost on the climate?

Thawing permafrost can release hundreds of billions of metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of greenhouse gases, contributing to further warming and creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop that exacerbates climate change.

How can individual actions contribute to soil health and climate change mitigation?

Individuals can contribute by supporting and practicing sustainable agriculture, reducing waste, composting, and advocating for policies that protect and restore soil health, all of which can help sequester carbon and mitigate climate change.