Canada's carbon-capturing natural areas can play a small — but effective — part in the country's overall strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions, according to a national report including two University of Alberta experts.
The recent report from the Council of Canadian Academies assessed the potential of fully protecting, restoring or expanding Canada's forests, wetlands, grasslands and croplands. It found that not only would such nature-based climate solutions (NBCSs) result in a modest drop in annual greenhouse gas emissions, but could also have other environmental benefits.
The findings suggest there is a place for NBCSs in Canada's overall strategy to mitigate climate change, says Vic Adamowicz, an environmental economist in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences who served on the panel along with colleague David Olefeldt.
"We have to also use other approaches to try to achieve greenhouse gas reduction, but nature-based climate solutions can play an important role."
The report, sponsored by Environment and Climate Change Canada, stemmed from the federal government's request to more fully explore the potential for enhancing carbon storage and reducing emissions through NBCSs.
