Decarbonization through Nature’s Solutions: National Policy and International Practice
https://doi.org/10.31857/S2587556623040088
EDN: CDGAXS
Abstract
The article gives an idea of the modern international approach to use of natural and climatic solutions (NCS) for decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality. It is concluded that the existing or planned implementation of state regulation in the field of NCS is clearly not enough to unlock the potential of NCS in Russia as a possible leader in the promising new market for the next decades. To realize this potential, significant focused work required to fine-tune the regulation and re-prioritization of public forest management, from extracting wood from forests for processing purposes to monetizing ecosystem services for forest carbon sequesИЗВЕСТИЯ tration. The target for increasing greenhouse gas removals in land use, land use change and forestry presented in the Strategy for Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions Socioeconomic Development until 2050 was analyzed for its achievability based on the activities and projects presented in section 3 of the Strategy operational plan (first version). It is concluded that the Strategy operational plan in terms of ecosystem solutions raises a lot of questions due to its poor compliance with modern ideas about ecosystem adaptation and mitigation, the use of NCS, etc. This part of the Strategy operational plan requires significant revision and adaptation to modern requirements. It will also require a significant refinement of the currently implemented Federal Project Forest Conservation and the state program Forestry Development for their integration into the Strategy. The first step along this path could be the calculation of the carbon footprint and carbon additionality of forestry activities carried out in relation to the baseline scenario, and the correction of forest restoration activities.
Keywords
decarbonization,
natural and climate solutions,
increase in greenhouse gas absorption,
ecosystem projects
Supporting agencies: The work was carried out within the framework of the state-ordered research theme of the Institute of Geography RAS AAAAA19-119021990093-8 (FMGE-2019-0007).
About the Authors
A. V. Ptichnikov
Center for Responsible Use of Natural Resources, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Moscow
E. A. Shvarts
Center for Responsible Use of Natural Resources, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Moscow
References
1. Bartalev S.A., Stytsenko F.V. An Assessment of the Forest Stands Destruction by Fires Based on the Remote Sensing Data on a Seasonal Distribution of Burnt Areas. Lesoved., 2021, no. 2, pp. 115–122. (In Russ.).
2. Bashmakov I., Bashmakov V., Borisov K., Dzedzichek M., Lunin A., Govor I. Russia’s carbon neutrality: pathways to 2060. Moscow: Center for energy efficiency, 2022.
3. Chen Z., Dayananda B., Fu B., Li Z., Jia Z., Hu Y., Cao J., Liu Y., Xie L., Chen Y., Wu Sh. Research on the Potential of Forestry’s Carbon-Neutral Contribution in China from 2021 to 2060. Sustain., 2022, vol. 14, iss. 9, no. 5444. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095444
4. Girardin C.A.J., Jenkins S., Seddon N., Allen M., Lewis S.L., Wheeler Ch.E., Griscom B.W., Malhi Y. Nature-based solutions can help cool the planet – if we act now. Nature, 2021, vol. 593, pp. 191–194. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01241-2
5. Green J.K., Keenan T.F. The limits of forest carbon sequestration. Science, 2022, vol. 376, no. 6594. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo6547
6. Griscom B.W., Adams J., Ellis P.W., Houghton R.A., Lomax G., Miteva D.A., Schlesinger W.H., Shoch D., Siikamäki J.V., Smith P., Woodbury P., Zganjar Ch., Blackman A., Campari J., Conant R.T., Delgado Ch., Elias P., Gopalakrishna T., Hamsik M.R., Herrero M., Kiesecker J., Landis E., Laestadius L., Leavitt S.M., Minnemeyer S., Polasky S., Potapov P., Putz F.E., Sanderman J., Silvius M., Wollenberg E., Fargione J. Natural climate solutions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 2017, vol. 114, no. 44, pp. 11645–11650. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710465114
7. Koroleva T.S., Yakusheva T.V. Study of introducing practice innovations in the forestry of the Russian Federation. Tr. S.-Peterb. Nauch.-Issled. Inst. Lesn. Khoz., 2020, no. 3, pp. 73–86. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21178/2079-6080.2020.3.73
8. Lemprière T.C., Kurz W.A., Hogg E.H., Schmoll C., Rampley G.J., Yemshanov D., McKenney D.W., Gilsenan R., Beatch A., Blain D., Bhatti J.S., Krcmar E. Canadian boreal forests and climate change mitigation. Environ. Rev., 2013, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 293–321. http://doi.org/10.1139/er-2013-0039
9. Lupyan E.A., Bartalev S.A., Balashov I.V., Egorov V.A., Ershov D.V., Kobets D.A., Sen’ko K.S., Stytsenko F.V., Sychugov I.G. Satellite monitoring of forest fires in the 21st century on the territory of the Russian Federation (figures and facts based on the detection of active combustion). Sovr. Probl. Distants. Zondir. Zemli Kosm., 2017, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 158–175. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21046/2070-7401-2017-14-6-158-175
10. Lupyan E.A., Lozin D.V., Balashov I.V., Bartalev S.A., Stytsenko F.V. Study of the dependence of forest fire damage degree on burning intensity based on satellite monitoring data. Sovr. Probl. Distants. Zondir. Zemli Kosm., 2022, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 217–232. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21046/2070-7401-2022-19-3-217-232
11. Moreau L., Thiffault E., Cyr D., Boulanger Y., Beauregard R. How can the forest sector mitigate climate change in a changing climate? Case studies of boreal and northern temperate forests in eastern Canada. For. Ecosyst., 2022, vol. 9, no. 100026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2022.100026
12. NDCs – A Force for Nature? Nature in Enhanced NDCs. UK: WWF, 2021.
13. Overland I., Sabyrbekov R. Know your opponent: Which countries might fight the European carbon border adjustment mechanism? Energy Policy, 2022, vol. 169, no. 113175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113175
14. Porfiriev B.N. Decarbonization vs. Adaptation of the Economy to Climate Change within the Sustainable Development Strategy. Stud. Russ. Econ., 2022, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 385–391. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075700722040074
15. Porfiriev B.N., Shirov A.A., Kolpakov A.Yu., Edinak E.A. Opportunities and risks of climate regulation policy in Russia. Vopr. Ekonom., 2022, no. 1, pp. 72–89. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.32609/0042-8736-2022-1-72-89
16. Pyzhev A.I. The Forest Industry of the Regions of Siberia and the Far East: Prospects for the Development of the Forest-Climate Sector. Stud. Russ. Econ., 2022, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 402–408. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075700722040086
17. Ptichnikov A.V., Shvarts E.A., Popova G.A., Baibar A.S. Strategy of low-carbon development of Russia and the role of forests in its implementation. Vestn. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2023, vol. 93, no. 1, pp. 36–49. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31857/S0869587323010073
18. Robertson G.P., Hamilton S.K., Paustian K., Smith P. Land-based climate solutions for the United States. Glob. Change Biol., 2022, vol. 28, pp. 4912–4919. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16267
19. Shvarts E.A., Kokorin A.O., Ptichnikov A.V., Krenke A.N. Cross-Border Carbon Regulation and Forests in Russia: From Expectations and Myth to Realization of Interests. Econ. Politika, 2022, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 54–77. (In Russ.).
20. Shvarts E.A., Ptichnikov A.V. Strategy for low-carbon development of Russia and the role of forests in its implementation. Nauch. Tr. Vol’n. Ekonom. Obshch. Rossii, 2022, vol. 236, no. 4, pp. 399–426. https://doi.org/10.38197/2072-2060-2022-236-4-399-426
21. Yao H., Sun W., Qin Z., Zhang W., Yu Y., Li T., Zhang Q., Wang G., Yu L., Wang Y., Ding F., Zhang P. The role of China’s terrestrial carbon sequestration 2010–2060 in offsetting energy-related CO2 emissions. Natl. Sci. Rev., 2022, vol. 9, iss. 8, nwac057. https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwac057
22. Zamolodchikov D., Grabovskii V., Kurts V. Forest carbon management in Russia: past, present and future. Ustoich. Lesopol., 2014, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 23–31. (In Russ.).
23. Zhong J., Pei J. Beggar thy neighbor? On the competitiveness and welfare impacts of the EU’s proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism. Energy Policy, 2022, vol. 162, no. 112802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.11
Review
For citations:
Ptichnikov A.V., Shvarts E.A. Decarbonization through Nature’s Solutions: National Policy and International Practice. Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk. Seriya Geograficheskaya. 2023;87(4):479–496. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S2587556623040088. EDN: CDGAXS
Views:
123
Email this article 
