For a decade I have been promoting the idea that there are two solutions to climate change: reducing CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel us e and misuse AND using the ‘magic’ of photosynthesis to capture excess carbon in the atmosphere and put the CO2 to productive use in rebuilding depleted soils, wetlands, grasslands and forests.
This new 4-minute video, narrated by Michael Pollan, tells the potential of this climate change solution beautifully: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/video/2519/cfs-videos/soil-solutions#
At the recent climate change negotiations in Paris the French Ministry of Agriculture has taken a clear stand on the issue with its “4 per 1000” initiative, committing to increase soil carbon by 0.4% each year. This is the first international effort to restore carbon in soils as a way to both feed us in the future and advance the other half of the climate change solution.
If all nations could achieve the 0.4% soil carbon sequestration goal what would that mean? First, it would reverse a 100+ year trend of industrial agriculture eroding about 50% of soil fertility globally as profligate farming behavior also released billions of tons of soil fertility into the atmosphere in the form of CO2. Annually, industrial farming accounts for about 30% of greenhouse gas emission, second only to the energy industry.
Second, if all nations were to follow the French lead then according to Pollan in the video, 75% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions could be stored in the soil. Imagine, we would only need to reduce new carbon emissions by 25% with new renewable energy generation and conservation. Very doable, and we also would be building soil fertility and increased access to healthy food!
So, the good news is we can reduce excess atmospheric greenhouse gas while at the same time improving soil fertility and food quality long-term. Regenerative farming and gardening is the solution, as good soil-building gardeners have known for decades.