Peatlands must be wet to reach climate neutrality by 2050

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - Humanity still has an opportunity to turn the tide on climate change by ensuring that all peatlands are wet by 2050, according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Peatlands and climate planning reveals that up to 15 percent of the world’s peatlands have been drained and degraded, causing 5 percent of human-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – greater than those of all aviation and shipping combined.

The report says action on peatlands is among the most cost-effective ways of reducing GHGs, but highlights a widespread underinvestment in conserving and protecting intact peatlands as well as restoring and improving management of these former wetlands.

“Humanity still has an opportunity to reverse these trends, by keeping all wet peatlands wet and by rewetting peatlands that have been drained,” said Amy Duchelle, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO’s Forestry Division. “However, climate action needs to advance rapidly within the next decade also to develop the necessary capacity to manage rewetting in a socially just manner.”

Achieving climate goals

Pristine peatlands are wetland ecosystems in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. The peat soil contains huge carbon stocks – almost twice that of the total biomass of the world’s forests – although they cover only 3 percent of the world's land surface.

Peatlands and climate planning promotes inclusion of peatlands in nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as a great opportunity for the 178 countries that host them, due to the very high carbon density, even when the area covered is small. It advises that including peatlands under the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector, as well as the energy sector’s emission reduction targets, offers an often-overlooked contribution for countries to reach goals set under the Paris Agreement.

The report advises that peatland restoration and conservation provide opportunities for climate change mitigation, due to the sink and carbon storage capacity of wet peatlands. As peatlands provide food, animal feed and fibre, regulate freshwater, provide shelter and opportunities for employment, their conservation and restoration also support adaptation and resilience to climate change. Drainage of peatlands exposes local populations both to risk of fires smouldering underground, as well as increasing floods and loss of coastal and riverine areas as the peat surface lowers.

The report calls for more funding to improve peatland management and suggests that countries consider domestic and international sources of finance, including tax increases on activities that damage peatlands, removal of subsidies driving peatland conversion, and investment in zero-drainage supply chains. It also urges meaningful stakeholder engagement – especially with local communities – to support the design and implementation of policies and actions affecting peatlands and local livelihoods.

The report offers practical guidance that countries can consider to boost their climate action, presenting in an accessible format tools and resources readily available for NDC planning and implementation, including on finance options. The report is an effort of 35 contributors and 11 different organisations involved in the Global Peatlands Initiative.