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

TL;DR

The solution to the global challenge of climate change lies in the soil, which can sequester carbon and combat degradation if treated properly.

Transcript

So one of the most important solutions to the global challenge posed by climate change lies right under our foot every day. It's soil. Soil's just the thin veil that covers the surface of land, but it has the power to shape our planet's destiny. See, a six-foot or so of soil, loose soil material that covers the earth's surface, represents the diffe... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 Soil is a crucial solution to combat climate change, as it can store large amounts of carbon and mitigate its impact on the atmosphere. It currently stores 315 times more carbon than what is released into the atmosphere. Soil degradation, caused by human actions, compromises its ability to sequester carbon and support plant productivity.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does soil play a role in combatting climate change?

Soil has the ability to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a process known as carbon sequestration. It stores a significant amount of carbon, with three thousand billion metric tons of carbon in soil, which is 315 times more carbon than what is currently released into the atmosphere. Therefore, maintaining and increasing the amount of carbon stored in soil can help mitigate climate change.

Q: What are the consequences of soil degradation?

Soil degradation, caused by human actions such as deforestation, intensive agriculture, overgrazing, and erosion, has several negative consequences. Firstly, degraded soils have reduced potential to support plant productivity, jeopardizing our ability to provide food and resources for both humans and other living organisms. Secondly, soil degradation has released 12 times more carbon into the atmosphere compared to the current rate of carbon emissions, contributing to further climate change.

Q: How can soil be both a storage box and a bank account for carbon?

Carbon in soil acts as both a storage box and a bank account. When carbon enters the soil through the process of photosynthesis and the decomposition of organic matter, it effectively acts as a storage box. This carbon can stay in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years. However, carbon also leaves the soil and can be released back into the atmosphere through the decay of formerly living organisms. By maintaining high levels of carbon in soil, we can prevent its degradation into greenhouse gases.

Q: What can be done to address soil degradation and climate change simultaneously?

Climate-smart land management practices can address the issues of soil degradation and climate change together. Implementing deep-rooted perennial plants, restoring forests, reducing tillage and agricultural disturbances, optimizing the use of agricultural chemicals, and adding carbon to soil through compost and recycled resources are all effective strategies. These practices can increase carbon storage in soil and contribute to climate change mitigation while also promoting soil health, fertility, and the ability to support food production.

Q: What is the "4 per 1000" effort, and how can it benefit the soil and climate?

The "4 per 1000" effort, originating from France, aims to increase the amount of carbon stored in soil by 0.4 percent annually through climate-smart land management practices. If successful, it could offset a third of global emissions from fossil fuel-derived carbon. Even if not fully successful, moving in that direction would lead to healthier and more fertile soils capable of supporting food production and sequestering carbon dioxide, providing both climate change mitigation and food security benefits.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Soil is a crucial solution to combat climate change.

• Carbon sequestration in soil can offset a third of global emissions, making it a key strategy for climate change mitigation.

• Soil degradation is a major problem, but through climate-smart land management practices, we can improve soil health and carbon storage while addressing food security.