Carbon farming: a circular framework to augment CO sinks and to combat climate change

• Published in: Environmental science. Advances Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 522 - 542
• Main Authors: Singh, Shalini, Kiran, Boda Ravi, Mohan, S. Venkata
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 02.04.2024
• ISSN: 2754-7000
• DOI: 10.1039/d3va00296a

Addressing the climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Confronting climate change and meeting the 1.5 °C target set by the Conference of Parties (COP 28) requires the implementation of long-term carbon-sink measures. Carbon farming (CF) is a scalable, cost-effective, and efficient approach to achieving negative emissions that aligns with the larger goals of sustainability and climate resilience. CF is a carbon management system that facilitates the accumulation and storage of greenhouse gases within the Earth's systems. Notably, one-third of the Earth's land is used for crops and grazing, creating a significant opportunity to capture atmospheric CO 2 and convert it into soil organic carbon (SOC). CF enables to establish a mechanism for sequestering carbon in long-term storage forms by improving soil health and agricultural output in the framework of nature-based solutions (NBS). In the midst of growing global efforts to combat climate change, the implementation of sustainable agriculture and soil conservation services (SCS) via 'carbon farming' is emerging as a critical approach to addressing environmental issues and promoting a resilient future. Voluntary participation in future carbon offset markets may provide incentives for this approach. Addressing the climate crisis stands as one of the paramount challenges of this era.