We need a forest-led COP27

Source– The post is based on the article “We need a forest-led COP27” published in The Hindu on 13th October 2022.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment

News- The article explains the need of moving away from technological solutions and having a forest-led approach to tackle climate change.

There are calls for developing technology to fight climate change across the world.

COP26 at Glasgow also emphasised on technological solutions.

Why technology alone is not sufficient to fight climate change?

Every technological solution discussed at COP26 depends on just three resources: non-emitting electricity, carbon capture and storage (CCS) or biomass.

The total demand for those resources required by the plans discussed at COP26 cannot be met by 2050. We currently have 4kWh/day of non-emitting electricity per person. But the COP26 plans require 32. We currently have 6kg of Carbon capture and storage per person per year, but the COP26 plans require 3600.

In 2003, Carnegie Institution found that the world would need a nuclear plant every day between 2000 and 2050 to avoid catastrophic climate change.

In 2018, MIT Technology Review reported that at the given rate, the world will take nearly 400 years to transform the energy system.

What forest led approach is needed to tackle climate change?

Our climate crisis is linked with other complex issues. We need multi-pronged, interconnected climate solutions. There is an intersection of the climate change crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial wildlife. Therefore they need protection.

Forests absorb a net 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO2 a year. A new study has found that they have a tendency to cool the earth by an additional 0.5%.

The conservation of forests along with other nature-based solutions are needed. It can provide up to 37% of the emissions reductions needed to tackle climate change.

Why is there a need for conserving natural sinks?

The IPCC Land Report estimates that land serves as a large CO2 sink.

Emission reduction can be achieved by conserving natural sinks, improving biodiversity protection, and restoring ecosystems.