Carbon‐dioxide Removal and Biodiversity: A Threat Identification Framework

Abstract

Carbon‐dioxide removal (CDR) technologies offer the potential to contribute to the restoration and protection of natural ecosystems, the achievement of development goals and the safeguarding of human wellbeing. However, these technologies can also present risks to biodiversity, particularly those techniques that depend on large‐scale manipulation of ecosystems and earth‐system processes. Debates around the development of these technologies have historically focused on the dichotomy between the need to expand the knowledge base on all options related to emerging technologies, and the concern that research represents a slippery slope to deployment. This paper introduces a new approach to governing CDR research – one based on threat identification. We present a framework for assessing the impacts (positive or negative) on biodiversity and ecosystems from a spectrum of CDR interventions, so as to prioritize research to those CDR options that present minimal threats to biodiversity. Application of the framework indicates that while many CDR interventions present threats to biodiversity, certain options, such as regenerative CDR, may have positive impacts.

A global meta‐analysis of the impacts of tree plantations on biodiversity

“…A plethora of studies suggests that tree plantations, including reforestation (planting trees on land that was forested historically) and afforestation (planting trees on land that was not forested historically; Dooley et al, 2021), can overcome a host of environmental problems, including climate change, soil erosion, water shortage and the sixth mass extinction (Bastin et al, 2019;Griscom et al, 2017;Newmark et al, 2017). However, the scientific community has strongly criticized the massive tree plantation programmes, owing to negative ecological and economic impacts, a limited role in adaptation to climate change and CO 2 mitigation, and threats to aboveand belowground biodiversity in treeless ecosystems (Baldocchi & Penuelas, 2019;Bond et al, 2019;Gómez-González et al, 2020;Holl & Brancalion, 2020;Jiang et al, 2020;Susana et al, 2020;Veldman et al, 2019;Zeng et al, 2020).…”

Carbon Dioxide Removal Policy in the Making: Assessing Developments in 9 OECD Cases

“…Other important strands of the debate touch on the patterns of emerging societal debates and their possible polarization (Colvin et al, 2020) as well as the public perception (Cox et al, 2020), socio-political prioritization (Fridahl, 2017;Rodriguez et al, 2020), innovation dynamics (Nemet et al, 2018), incentive structures for research and deployment (Lomax et al, 2015;Cox and Edwards, 2019;Fajardy et al, 2019;Torvanger, 2019;Fridahl et al, 2020;Bellamy et al, 2021) and framings of different CDR methods (Bellamy and Osaka, 2020;Waller et al, 2020;Woroniecki et al, 2020). Furthermore, the literature highlights the role of CDR in integrated assessment modeling and possible implications for climate policy (Geden, 2016b;Beck and Mahony, 2018;Haikola et al, 2019;Workman et al, 2020), negative implications of deploying large-scale CDR for sustainability and biodiversity (Buck, 2016;Smith et al, 2019;Dooley et al, 2020;Honegger et al, 2020), and justice and equity considerations (Anderson and Peters, 2016;Peters and Geden, 2017;Shue, 2018;Fyson et al, 2020;Morrow et al, 2020;Pozo et al, 2020).…”

The Role of Organic Fertilizers in Transition to Sustainable Agriculture in the MENA Region

“…Unsustainable land use poses a threat for climate and biodiversity [20,36,50]. Agricultural land use and soil management practices are from a climate and environmental perspective of relevance for carbon storage [51], but also with respect to nutrient runoff, and persistent chemicals, and to emissions of N 2 O and CH 4 [52]. According to the IPCC, the use of fertilizers has increased nine-fold since 1961 [53], and soil management accounts for half of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the agricultural sector [54].…”

“…Differences in what is included in calculations, as well as in assumptions regarding anticipated conditions and future projections naturally affect conclusions. Biochar has attracted considerable interest for its ability to improve soil fertility and immobilize pollutants, while offering potential for long term storage of carbon [51]. However, the stability of biochar and its long-term impacts will ultimately depend on conditions that affect biochar aging [73].…”

“…Agroforestry brings benefits for soil fauna and generally improves soil quality [101][102][103], and soil organic carbon sequestration [51,104]. Depending on conditions, reduced light can affect yields of crops that are grown with trees, but agroforestry is also deliberately used to provide shade and create beneficial microclimates to mitigate heat stress and loss of water through evapotranspiration, as well as to adjust for lower or more variable rainfall [105], which is highly relevant for arid and semi-arid regions.…”