Carbon Bank’s Post

As we consider the importance of conserving nature and all the benefits it provides today, #WorldNatureConservationDay, we’ve been reflecting on some of the key takeaways Trellis Group recently identified from the latest State of Carbon Removal report—specifically that “99.9 percent of carbon removal today occurs via nature-based rather than novel technological pathways.” In other words, nature conservation (think forest restoration, improved forest management, wetland restoration, and soil carbon sequestration) remains the best option, to an overwhelming degree, for addressing climate change and a warming planet. That nature-based solutions offer the best and most effective approach for combatting climate change gives us cause for hope. Not only are they already being deployed in many places in North America, but they are also currently benefitting from unprecedented support at the federal level, from funding sources like the IRA in the U.S. and Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, and from momentum driven by agreed-upon targets like 30x30 and America the Beautiful. But there is still a need to act, to increase the pace and scale of restoring and conserving nature, because these forms of carbon removals must still nearly double by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement. So today, we are taking time to pause and appreciate all that nature does for us, but to also consider how we can—and must—do better, faster. Check out the synthesis by Trellis (formerly GreenBiz) and find a link to the full report at https://lnkd.in/gQXJjMRG

🌲 🌳 Everyone wants to plant their way out of the climate crisis. Spoiler: There isn't enough land. 🌏 This week's recommended reading is a new article from nature that identifies an over-reliance of land-based removals in net-zero pledges, and highlights the significant gap between how much governments expect to rely on land for carbon removal and the more realistic role that land can play in climate mitigation. The reality of extensive scale land-based removal is the risk of competing with food production alongside growing populations, biodiversity, and local land rights, especially in vulnerable regions. This over-reliance on lands presents risks to actually reaching common climate goals and mitigating warming to within 2°C. 👉 As the paper points out, most national or organisational net-zero targets are too vague right now, and both need to clarify their land requirements and pathways to reach climate commitments. 👈 This includes plans to implement realistic land-based components that are environmentally and socially sustainable, contribute to biodiversity, and support local livelihoods, while ensuring much needed emissions reductions. Further, commitments need to include other carbon removal technologies and pathways, as a mixed suite of activities are a crucial piece of the puzzle. By relying exclusively on the biosphere to deliver removals, we fail to address the long-term problem, which is an imbalance between geological and biological carbon storage. 🔺 For corporates, this means preparing to invest in not only nature based removals, as these are still important transitional elements of strategy, but also nascent hybrid or engineered solutions. Part of this can be investing at a price that signals to the market a greater need for durable, technological solutions (moving from biological to geological storage) and supporting a broad portfolio of options. By increasing this demand, we can scale and accelerate the development of these technologies and position a wider suite of solutions at the forefront of organisational and national pledges. 🌍 #carbonremoval #netzero #netzeropledge #climateaction https://lnkd.in/deJbmFrG

🌍 Did you know that nature-based solutions (NBS) could provide 37% of the cost-effective CO2 mitigation needed by 2030? Yet, they receive less than 1% of global climate finance! In my latest article for Earth.Org, I explore the economic and political challenges preventing nature-based solutions from reaching their full potential in mitigating climate risks. From restoring mangroves to reforesting critical areas, NBS offer vast opportunities but face barriers in financing and implementation. Some of my main takeaways are that 1. NBS can complement, and in some cases outperform, engineered solutions. 2. Despite their potential, nature-based solutions are underutilised due to insufficient climate finance and policy support. 3. For nature-based solutions to be fully effective, there needs to be a fundamental shift in how institutions and interdisciplinary research operate. This would ensure NBS’s integration into climate strategies through a systems-thinking approach, which balances multiple ecosystem services and accounts for diverse stakeholder needs. Read my article: https://lnkd.in/dj_aGy4D #ClimateChange #NatureBasedSolutions #Sustainability #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalEconomics

A new Business Pact is urging companies to sign up to drive action on decarbonisation and biodiversity loss. Accelerate, The Business Pact on Climate and Nature, is being launched by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) today, where being accountable and open about their progress to net zero as well as regularly reviewing their plan will improve businesses effectiveness and efficacy in achieving their target. 2023 was the hottest year on record - the time to act is now. #decarbonisation #greenenergy #climatechange

Forest carbon markets are a relatively new market, but they are growing rapidly. There are a number of benefits to using forest carbon markets. ➡ They can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When companies buy carbon credits, they are essentially paying for trees to be planted or protected. This helps to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. ➡ They can create a financial incentive for forest conservation. Forest carbon markets provide a way for landowners to earn money from their forests. This can help to incentivize them to protect their forests from deforestation and degradation. ➡ They can support sustainable development. Forest carbon markets can help to generate income for rural communities. This can help to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty. ▶ For many years, the biggest challenge for credit-sellers was measuring, with reasonable accuracy, how their projects have reduced emissions. Thanks to new breakthroughs in remote sensing, aerial imaging and artificial intelligence, monitoring has improved dramatically. #climatechange #sustainability #environment #gogreen #savetheplanet #greenliving #sustainablebusiness #naturebasedsolutions https://lnkd.in/gEPM2gZb

How Can We Empower Coastal Communities with Blue Carbon Projects? Coastal wetlands hold immense potential for carbon sequestration, but it's crucial to prioritize the rights and needs of local communities in blue carbon projects. A rights-based approach ensures historical resource use, Indigenous rights, and local perspectives are at the forefront. By doing so, we can safeguard food, income, and protection for communities while achieving climate goals. High-quality blue carbon projects should focus on ecosystem health and community benefits, not just carbon credits. Initiatives like the High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles and Guidance emphasize inclusivity and equitable benefit-sharing, ensuring sustainable and resilient conservation efforts. Check out this thought-provoking blow from the World Economic Forum, below!. #BlueCarbon #Sustainability #ClimateAction #CommunityFirst #InvestableOceans #WorldEconomicForum

At Neter, we recognise the immense potential of blue carbon ecosystems—such as mangroves and seagrasses—not only for carbon sequestration but also as key drivers of community resilience and sustainable livelihoods. In World Economic Forum's recent article, they explore reframing the value of blue carbon in order to create financial models that simultaneously support local communities and protect these critical ecosystems. The continuing alignment of economic opportunity with sustainable livelihoods, and environmental and biospheric resilience is an increasingly urgent imperative. As with all finance and investment opportunity, of course, there's an element of risk and it is important to focus on high quality, high integrity projects with verified, validated and measurable positive impacts. Read the full article to learn more about the real impact of blue carbon: https://lnkd.in/gXxKAuby #BlueCarbon #Sustainability #NaturePositive #ClimateAction

We need these robust decarbonisation scenarios to better understand the pathway to net zero by 2050 across the economy. The role of nature-based sequestration through 'tree planting, ecosystem restoration and emerging soil carbon capture techniques' is critical to staying under 2oC. It's great to see acknowledgement that this come with a fresh set of challenges in terms of 'managing competing land uses in a just and sustainable way'. Nice work Climateworks Centre. Keep the models coming, to help us move to a low carbon future in the most planned and orderly manner possible. #netzero #carbon #naturebasedsolutions #nbs

https://lnkd.in/dAVRGXQr <<In 2024, we're confident the good news will keep on coming, as renewable power soars, vulnerable ecosystems gain rights, and climate protocols start to pay dividends. This article will be regularly updated with the latest good news. It may be something small and local, something silly that made us smile, or something enormous and potentially world-changing. If you come across a great, positive story that we haven't covered here - please reach out to us on Instagram or X to share your ideas.>> #Danube #Boris #environment #waters #EU #EUSDR #ESG #bestpractices

The natural environment has the ability to act as a carbon sink, meaning that it can absorb more carbon than it produces. However, scientists discovered a worrying indication that the Earth’s natural carbon sinks absorbed almost no carbon in 2023, a worrying sign of an environmental collapse. What might be the cause? Read the full article by tapping the link below: https://lnkd.in/gy4fKKYD #greennetwork #greennetworkasia #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment #SDGs2030 #carbonfootprint #greenhousegas #climatecrisis #carbonemissions #carbonsink #enviromentalprotection #naturalenviroment