Nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) are actions that use nature to fight climate change. They try to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the air or stop more CO₂ from being released. However, current nature-based solutions are not working as well as expected. A new scientific study published by UCSB says these solutions need to be restructured to make a real impact.
What Are Nature-Based Climate Solutions?
Nature-based climate solutions are human actions that help the environment absorb or avoid carbon emissions. These include:
- Avoiding emissions, such as stopping deforestation.
- Removing greenhouse gases, like planting new trees to absorb CO₂.
As lead author William Anderegg explains, “Nature-based climate solutions are human actions that leverage natural processes to either take carbon out of the atmosphere or stop the emissions of carbon to the atmosphere.”
The Role of Forests in Climate Mitigation
Forests are one of the most important parts of NbCS. Trees take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store it in their wood, roots, and soil. This helps reduce the greenhouse effect, which warms the planet.
About 31% of human-caused CO₂ emissions are pulled from the air by land-based ecosystems, according to the study. But when forests are destroyed, especially in places like the Amazon, large amounts of carbon is released. The research warns that deforestation is adding 1.9 gigatons of carbon per year, which is similar to the yearly emissions of Russia.
Why Current Carbon Offsets Are Not Working?
Many companies try to lower their emissions by buying carbon offsets. These are payments made to protect or restore forests. But according to the study, these offsets are often not providing real climate benefits.
Co-author Libby Blanchard, who has studied these programs, says:
“There are widespread problems with accounting for their climate impact.”
One example is the land’s albedo, or how much sunlight the surface reflects. Forests usually absorb more sunlight than open land or snow. In some places, planting trees can actually warm the planet instead of cooling it. Despite this, most carbon offset programs do not consider the albedo effect.
Key Problems in Current NbCS Projects
The researchers found four major problems with the way current NbCS programs are run:
- Lack of climate cooling - Some projects may warm the planet due to surface changes.
- No additional action - Projects sometimes protect forests that were never under threat.
- Carbon leakage - Logging or farming is simply moved to another area.
- Low carbon durability - Trees can die from droughts, fires, or pests, releasing the carbon back.
As the authors wrote, a proper climate solution should:
“Lead to net global cooling; result in additional climate benefits; avoid carbon ‘leakage’; and store carbon long enough to make a difference.”
What Must Be Done to Improve NbCS?
To fix these issues, the study offers several reforms. The most important step is to use better science and more accurate measurements. Projects must count for all the effects, including albedo and climate risks.
“If you go in an ecosystem that is mostly snow covered and you plant really dark conifer trees, that can actually outweigh the carbon storage benefit and heat up the planet,” said William Anderegg.
Another key point is additionality. The solution must cause something new to happen, like saving a forest that would otherwise be cut. If nothing changes, then there is no real climate benefit.
The study also warns about carbon durability. When carbon is stored in trees, it must remain there for at least 100 years. If the trees die early, the carbon goes back into the air. Right now, most buffer systems that are supposed to protect stored carbon are not strong or reliable.
“You have to know how big the risks are, and you have to account for those risks in the policies and programs,” Anderegg said.
Changing the Way Carbon Credits Work
The current system allows companies to take credit for carbon savings, even when the benefits are uncertain. The researchers recommend a contribution approach instead. In this system, companies help fund climate action without falsely claiming large emission cuts.
This would lead to better quality projects and stronger climate laws. It would also make the system more legally and scientifically honest, the researchers say.
Nature-based climate solutions can help fight climate change, but only if they are done correctly. Forests are valuable tools in storing carbon and reducing emissions. However, projects must be carefully planned, based on real science, and managed for long-term success.
The research team, including experts from University of Utah and UC Santa Barbara, is now working to inform global carbon market protocols and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Their goal is to help the world move toward real, lasting net-zero carbon targets