Natural climate solutions can cost-effectively reduce emissions

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China can cost-efficiently cut greenhouse gas emission by nearly six percent, the equivalent of closing 172 coal-fired plants, and India can reduce emissions by 1.4 percent by implementing natural climate solutions, a new study claims.

Researchers in the study, say natural climate solutions found that trees have remarkable potential in reducing carbon emissions cost-effectively. Will McGoldrick, Director of Climate Strategy at The Nature Conservancy told CGTN that findings show the potential of natural solutions has a much more significant role in containing climate change than previously thought.

“Natural climate solutions including trees, better management of agriculture, coastal carbon sinks could reduce emissions by 11.3 billion tons per year by 2030—equivalent to halting the burning of oil, and offering 37 percent of the emissions reductions needed to hold global warming below 2 degrees,” he added.

Researchers are also claiming that the study is the first attempt to estimate systematically the amount of carbon that might be sequestered from the atmosphere by various actions in forestry and agriculture, and by the preservation of natural lands which store carbon very efficiently.

India, China, and Indonesia benefit

The study reveals that China, Indonesia, and India would benefit to a large extent by implementing reforestation, natural forest management and avoiding forest conversion and peatland imports.

While China can cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than six percent, the equivalent of closing 172 coal plants, Indonesia could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 percent by protecting its peatlands. India has the potential to reduce emissions by 1.4 percent by improving rice cultivation, equivalent to closing 10 coal plants, researchers predicted.

British Prince William (1st L) and his wife Kate Middleton (3rd R) feed rhinos and elephants at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation at Panbari reserve forest in Kaziranga, Indian northeastern state of Assam, on April 13, 2016. /Xinhua

Globally, implementation of this natural solution would be equivalent to removing 7.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year by 2030, equivalent to taking 1.5 billion gasoline-powered cars from the roads, the study said.

“In our research, we also found that China is already implementing some of the recommendations with the concept like forest cities, but a lot more needs to be done,” McGoldrick added.

Another study reveals large-scale forestation in China, India and South Korea

In the last two decades, India, China, and South Korea have removed nearly 12 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through extensive tree plantations.

Interestingly, three countries adopted entirely different approaches for afforestation, reforestation, and forest restoration (ARR).

The findings on forestation and reduction in carbon dioxide have been released in a report, large-scale forestation for climate mitigation: Lessons from South Korea, China, and India.

The study points out that China has pumped 113 billion US dollars into afforestation of about 55.6 million hectares of land. The country was facing massive deforestation by timber industry leading to expansion of Gobi desert.

Consistent monetary support for the expansion of forest by the Indian government from .39 percent in 1980 to one percent in 1997 has boosted forest cover in the country.

South Korea that constituted a separate ministry for forest promoted forest cover through community participation.