CO2RE event on Greenhouse Gas Removal and Innovation
The UK Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub (CO2RE) recently held an event to showcase the latest Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) research & innovation, and to highlight its role in effective, sustainable & equitable climate action. Nature-based solutions featured prominently, with a number of speakers highlighting the major contribution they are expected to make in achieving the UK’s net-zero target, and discussion sessions raising concerns around implementation and scalability.
Alongside the potential of large-scale land-use reconfiguration and ecological restoration, GGR demonstration projects are studying some of the specific mechanisms by which nature-based solutions may help mitigate climate change. For example, peatland re-wetting is known to reduce CO2 emissions and ultimately recapture carbon in soils, but also lead to increased production of methane. However, the presence of Sphagnum mosses can significantly reduce peatland methane emissions, and so researchers are exploring how to facilitate the recovery of peatland ecosystems and increase Sphagnum cover.
Many challenges in the widespread deployment of nature-based GGR practices were also raised, however. There were particular concerns around monitoring, reporting and verification: are these measures sufficiently developed to ensure that NbS actually prove beneficial for climate change mitigation and ecosystem recovery, and are not reversed after any payments are received? The potential for ‘greenwashing’ was highlighted, and the difficulties in implementing NbS before baselines and assessment methods are established.
The event revealed clear enthusiasm for NbS in the UK’s climate change mitigation strategy, but also indicated that stakeholders are realistic about the challenges that still need to be overcome, and the necessity of a developing a wider portfolio of removal methods to achieve our emission targets.
Find out more about the UK Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub on the CO2RE website.
UK Greenhouse Gases Removal Hub (CO2RE) hivi karibuni ilifanya tukio la kuonyesha utafiti na uvumbuzi wa hivi karibuni wa Uondoaji wa Gesi ya Greenhouse (GGR) na kuangazia jukumu lake katika hatua ya hali ya hewa yenye ufanisi, endelevu na sawa. "Mafuniko ya asili yalionyeshwa kwa uangalifu, na wasemaji kadhaa wakikazia mchango mkubwa wanaotarajiwa kufanya katika kufikia lengo la Uingereza la ""net-zero,"" na vikao vya majadiliano vilivyosababisha wasiwasi kuhusu utekelezaji na upanuzi." Pamoja na uwezekano wa marekebisho makubwa ya matumizi ya ardhi na ukarabati wa ikolojia, miradi ya maonyesho ya GGR inajifunza baadhi ya taratibu maalum ambazo suluhisho za asili zinaweza kusaidia kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Kwa mfano, re-wetting peatland inajulikana kupunguza uzalishaji wa CO2 na hatimaye recapture kaboni katika udongo, lakini pia kusababisha ongezeko la uzalishaji wa methane. Hata hivyo, uwepo wa mwani wa Sphagnum unaweza kupunguza kwa kiasi kikubwa uzalishaji wa methane ya peatland, na hivyo watafiti wanachunguza jinsi ya kuwezesha urejesho wa mifumo ya ikolojia ya peatland na kuongeza kifuniko cha Sphagnum. Hata hivyo, changamoto nyingi katika kuenea kwa mazoea ya GGR ya asili pia ziliinuliwa. "Kulikuwa na wasiwasi maalum kuhusu ufuatiliaji, kuripoti na uthibitisho: Je, hatua hizi zimesitawi vya kutosha kuhakikisha kwamba NBS inathibitisha kuwa na faida kwa kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kurudisha mfumo wa ikolojia, na haibadilishwi baada ya malipo yoyote kupokea? """ Uwezekano wa "greenwashing" ulikaziwa, na matatizo katika kutekeleza NbS kabla ya baselines na mbinu za tathmini kuanzishwa. Tukio hilo lilionyesha shauku ya wazi kwa NBS katika mkakati wa kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa wa Uingereza, lakini pia ilionyesha kwamba wadau ni wa kweli kuhusu changamoto ambazo bado zinahitaji kushindwa, na umuhimu wa kuendeleza mkusanyiko mkubwa wa mbinu za kuondoa ili kufikia malengo yetu ya uzalishaji. Kujifunza zaidi kuhusu UK Greenhouse Gases Removal Hub katika tovuti ya CO2RE