Soil Security (Mar 2022)
Soil organic carbon commitments under three Rio Conventions: Opportunities for integration
Abstract
Agricultural land-based measures to protect and sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are increasingly recognized and advocated for their benefits to address climate change, tackle food security, support ecosystem restoration, and maintain biodiversity. In the climate change context, countries’ SOC-related agricultural commitments in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement have been well assessed. The NDCs do not necessarily reflect existing national level interest, policies, or commitments to SOC protection and sequestration. Moreover, many countries prioritize SOC protection and sequestration in efforts to minimize land degradation, offset degradation through rehabilitation and restoration actions, and protect biodiversity. Recognizing these diverse country priorities and the potential to integrate SOC-related commitments across Conventions, this paper reviews countries’ agricultural (including cropland, grassland, wetland) SOC and wetland commitments in Land Degradation Neutrality (102 countries) and biodiversity targets (175 countries). Results are compared with SOC and wetland commitments in the latest NDCs and discussed in the context of outcomes from the 26th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties held in Glasgow (November 2021). At least 62 countries, mostly from the global south, included SOC or wetland commitments in Land Degradation Neutrality and biodiversity targets that are not reflected in the latest NDCs. These countries have the potential to include SOC and wetland commitments in updated, new, or revisited NDCs. Priorities under the Glasgow Climate Pact and the Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh work programme for adaption provide opportunities to integrate SOC-related commitments across Conventions and within national planning processes.
