Climate Change Mitigation Actions Research Articles

Long-term effects of tillage systems on soil health of a silt loam in Lower Austria

Tillage is an essential practice for soil preparation in agriculture that influences a broad variety of soil parameters. However, the long-term implications of tillage on soil health are complex, context specific, and need to be better understood. The aim of our study is to evaluate soil physical, chemical, and biological effects of three different tillage practices: conventional tillage (CT), mulch tillage (MT), and no-till (NT). A long-term experiment in Mistelbach, Lower Austria, was launched in 1994 and comprehensively sampled in 2002 and 2021. To evaluate tillage-impacts over the two decadal monitoring we assessed soil health indicators in the 0–20 cm soil depth (conventional ploughing layer) and below 20 cm. A "Soil Management Assessment Framework" (SMAF) procedure was applied to assess and compare soil quality using the Soil Quality Index (SQI). Considering multiple indicators, we found overall quality improvements in all three tillage-experiments over time. However, particularly the conservation practices (MT and NT) enhanced soil quality, predominately soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil physical indicators (e.g. water holding capacity, coarse pores). The study confirms that SOC in the 0–20 cm layer significantly increased under no-till (46 Mg C ha−1) compared to conventional tillage (26 Mg C ha−1). At the same time aggregate stability and water holding capacity increased under conservation agriculture (MT and NT). The proven positive impacts on soil health will further help to promote agricultural practices that sustain productivity while pushing forward climate change mitigation actions in temperate climate.

Relevance of population mobility for climate change mitigation

Population mobility and immobility are depicted prominently in the climate change adaptation literature either as maladaptation, or failure to adapt, or as a key strategy for adaptation in place or elsewhere. On the other hand, the relevance of population mobility in the context of climate change mitigation has not been highlighted to the same extent as, for example, population growth and fertility. And yet, as the outcomes of people moving around – sometimes in unexpected ways because of local combinations of policies, contexts and shocks – population mobility patterns, trends and levels could both facilitate and constrain climate change mitigation efforts. In this brief note, I suggest that climate change mitigation strategies and actions need to take into account their potential interactions with population mobility because it is a key component of population growth, population distribution and urbanisation trends, as well as a potential contributor to behavioural change.

Climate Change Mitigation in Agriculture beyond 2030: Options for Carbon Pricing and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms

SummaryIn the EU's climate policy, agriculture is covered as an Effort‐Sharing (ESR) sector, i.e. a sector beyond the Emission Trading System and LULUCF. Despite ambitious climate targets for the ESR sectors and an emerging focus on the need for agriculture to make a substantial contribution to climate change mitigation, agriculture has contributed much less to achieving climate targets than other ESR sectors in most EU Member States. A more radical mitigation instrument is required since the potential to increase climate efficiency in EU agriculture is limited. Carbon pricing is considered an effective instrument and is widely adopted in other sectors worldwide. Options on how to reduce related carbon leakage are discussed. Our recommendations for efficient climate change mitigation policy in agriculture are threefold. First, the agricultural sector needs more precise guidance and clear climate targets. Second, although preventing all conflicts between climate change mitigation actions and other policy goals is impossible and inefficient, a policy could minimise adverse effects. Third, since agricultural GHG emissions can only be minimised and compensated by negative emissions in other sectors, well‐defined intersectoral coordination is required.

Knowledge and Attitude of Village Communities towards Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Activities

The aim of this research is to determine the knowledge and attitudes of village communities towards climate change adaptation and mitigation activities to support the climate village program. The type of research is qualitative research, taking place in Laikang village, Takalar Regency. The study population was 6774 people. A sample of 200 people was determined using the side purposive method. The research instruments were questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) sheets, and observation sheets. The data analysis technique used in this research is descriptive analysis. The research results show that (1) the level of respondents’ knowledge regarding adaptation and mitigation activities is in the medium category; (2) respondents' attitudes towards adaptation and mitigation activities are in the medium category.

Estimating Sugarcane Aboveground Biomass and Carbon Stock Using the Combined Time Series of Sentinel Data with Machine Learning Algorithms

Accurately mapping crop aboveground biomass (AGB) in a timely manner is crucial for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and effective climate change mitigation actions. To address this challenge, the integration of satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) data with advanced machine learning algorithms offers promising prospects to monitor land and crop phenology over time. However, achieving accurate AGB maps in small crop fields and complex landscapes is still an ongoing challenge. In this study, the AGB was estimated for small sugarcane fields (<1 ha) located in the Kumphawapi district of Udon Thani province, Thailand. Specifically, in order to explore, estimate, and map sugarcane AGB and carbon stock for the 2018 and 2021 years, ground measurements and time series of Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) data were used and random forest regression (RFR) and support vector regression (SVR) applied. Subsequently, optimized predictive models used to generate large-scale maps were adapted. The RFR models demonstrated high efficiency and consistency when compared to the SVR models for the two years considered. Specifically, the resulting AGB maps displayed noteworthy accuracy, with the coefficient of determination (R2) as 0.85 and 0.86 with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 8.84 and 9.61 t/ha for the years 2018 and 2021, respectively. In addition, mapping sugarcane AGB and carbon stock across a large scale showed high spatial variability within fields for both base years. These results exhibited a high potential for effectively depicting the spatial distribution of AGB densities. Finally, it was shown how these highly accurate maps can support, as valuable tools, sustainable agricultural practices, government policy, and decision-making processes.

A blessing in disguise: advisers’ experiences with promoting climate change mitigation among Norwegian farmers

ABSTRACT Purpose The purpose of the paper is to analyze how promotional and advisory efforts address climate change mitigation in Norway and to learn how advisers navigate between governmental goals to address the common good and farmers’ private needs. Methodology Empirical data was obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight agricultural advisers with the mandate of promoting climate-friendly farming, as well as through notes and presentations from a workshop involving advisers and agricultural schoolteachers. Data were analyzed qualitatively on the basis of meaning condensation and meaning categorization. Findings Only the most enterprising farmers have proactively sought climate advice and attended climate courses – and primarily for farm-benefiting gains other than climate change mitigation. The advisers see it as essential to highlight the overall gains that derive from climate change mitigation and that benefit farms in the broader sense in order to motivate farmers, while the central communication around climate advice and courses more narrowly solely focuses on the opportunity to reduce emissions. Practical implications and value It is important to create a suitable framing of climate change mitigation and its benefits both at the macro (policy and programme) and micro (farm-level advice) levels, in order to reach out to as many farmers as possible. Theoretical implications Advice framing that puts greater emphasis on the private, non-climate-related benefits of climate change mitigation actions seems to stimulate greater support for these actions than a common-good framing focused on addressing climate change only.

Carbonservation with Demonstrated Biodiversity and Carbon Gains: Carbon Can Pay But Biodiversity Must Lead

Land use has a critical role to play in both climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, and increasingly there have been calls to integrate policies for concurrently meeting Paris Agreement commitments and the UN decade on ecosystem restoration 2021–2030. Currently however, investment activities have been dominated by climate change mitigation activities, including through the development of carbon markets (both voluntary and compliance markets). Whilst climate change mitigation is to be welcomed, the prioritization of carbon in avoided deforestation and reforestation can lead to suboptimal or negative outcomes for biodiversity. Restoration of degraded native vegetation may provide an opportunity for concurrent production of both carbon and biodiversity benefits, by harnessing existing carbon markets without the need to trade-off biodiversity outcomes. Here we demonstrate that carbon sequestered by restoring degraded temperate woodland can pay the price of the restored biodiversity. This is shown using conservative carbon prices in an established market (during both a voluntary and compliance market phase), and the restoration price revealed by a 10-year conservation incentive payment scheme. When recovery rates are high, market prices for carbon could pay the full price of restoration, with additional independent investment needed in cases where recovery trajectories are slower. Using carbon markets to fund restoration of degraded native vegetation thereby provides a solution for constrained resources and problematic trade-offs between carbon and biodiversity outcomes. Multi-attribute markets offer the potential to greatly increase the extent of restoration for biodiversity conservation, while providing an affordable source of carbon sequestration and enhancing economic benefits to landowners.

Implementation of the climate village program (Proklim) related to gender-based

The Climate Village Program (PROKLIM) experienced development and positive responses from 2011 to 2022 from various stakeholders. From the start, PROKLIM has prioritized sustainability aspects in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts at the grassroots level. With an effectiveness level reaching 80%, the implementation of PROKLIM can be seen from the active participation of the community in every stage of decision-making, from planning and implementation to monitoring activities in climate village locations, strengthening the sense of ownership of ongoing programs and activities. Even though it is considered adequate at 80%, according to SRN-PPI data, PROKLIM coordinators in each region must remain vigilant and strive to change the community's mindset and knowledge regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation actions. The success of PROKLIM activities depends on forming a sustainable community mindset in preserving and transforming the environment. The SIDIK, SPECTRUM, and SRNPPI platforms are expected to facilitate PROKLIM implementation and stakeholders, ensuring that community-based climate change adaptation and mitigation actions can be recorded, accounted for, and validated effectively. Keywords: PROKLIM, Effectiveness, Community Participation, Mitigation and Adaptation Actions, Gender Equality. Keywords: Proklim, Effectiveness, Community Participation, Mitigation and Adaptation Actions, Gender Equality.

Long-term effect of different forest thinning intensity on carbon sequestration rates and potential uses in climate change mitigation actions

Long-term effect of different forest thinning intensity on carbon sequestration rates and potential uses in climate change mitigation actions

The Role of Coastal Women’s Empowerment in Achieving The Success of SDGs: A Study on The Kebaya Group, Bekasi

Land conversion has occurred in the coastal area of Kampung Beting, Pantai Bahagia Village, Bekasi Regency. What used to be a mangrove plantation has transformed into spaces for fish and shrimp ponds. This phenomenon took place from 2001 to the early 2010s. The promise of lucrative income led the community to compete in changing land use without considering the potential consequences. After 2011, the community gradually began to feel the negative impacts of this land conversion. To this day, the entire area that was once used for ponds has turned into the sea, causing the community to lose their livelihoods. Furthermore, not only have they lost their livelihoods, but they have also been confronted with land degradation, which threatens their sustainability. This study examines how coastal women's empowerment activities can contribute to sustainable development. The research employs a phenomenological approach, and data is collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate that Coastal Women's Empowerment Contributes to Sustainable Goals in Climate Change Mitigation, Gender Equality, and Poverty Alleviation. In climate change mitigation activities, there are two key activities: 1) the development of women's behavior in efforts to improve and rehabilitate critical lands, and 2) women's involvement in the maintenance of mangrove trees. In gender equality activities, there is one main activity: 1) active participation of women in productive economic activities, allowing coastal women in Pantai Bahagia Village to have regular activities beyond their domestic responsibilities. The focus of poverty alleviation activities is 2) increasing income by utilizing non-timber mangrove products for food processing and crafts.

Location Analysis of The Best Climate Village in Paser Regency Using Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation (TOPSIS)

Since the enactment of the National Registration System (SRN) of the Directorate General of Climate Change Control based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number 71 of 2017 where SRN is a forum to manage and provide web-based data and information in the form of actions and resources in the implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in Indonesia. Until 2023, there are 16 climate village locations in Paser Regency that have been reported to SRN with various levels of achievement according to the conditions of action that have been carried out by each climate village location. The purpose of this study is to analyze the best location of climate villages as reference locations in efforts to adapt and mitigate climate change in Paser Regency. The method used is TOPSIS, which calculates the highest value to the lowest of the closing results. From the results of the analysis, it was found that the best location of the climate village in Paser Regency that can be recommended as a reference location for ProKlim development is Muser Village, Muara Samu District, Paser Regency.

HIGHER EDUCATION ROLES TO SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

Climate change has become an issue that affect every aspect of our lives, including in food security and economic matters. Climate change mitigation plays a key role to prevent the worst impact of climate change. Higher education can take a role on university-based mitigation action in reducing local emission by promoting service-learning approaches that include climate change mitigation. This paper aims to explore the role of higher education to support climate change mitigation to achieve tangible local benefits in facing climate change. This research uses a systematic literature review method related to climate change mitigation in higher education. This paper illustrating the role of higher education to support climate change mitigation by using service-learning approach and creating climate change governance networks. Higher Education Institution as an organization with significant impact toward local community can act as catalyst for sustainable development system. Higher education institution needs to regulate and renew energy systems and reorganize transportation system in order to reduce CO2 emissions and communicate message to higher education community to support climate change mitigation actions in personal level.

Paludiculture in Latvia—Existing Knowledge and Challenges

Global climate change impact has increased in recent decades and put urgency on implementing effective climate change mitigation (CCM) activities. Rewetting of drained peatlands is an acknowledged measure to reduce GHG emissions from organic soils in the agriculture and land use sectors. Under waterlogged conditions, decomposition of organic matter in peat decreases, and emissions of CO2 are reduced. Thus, the soil carbon stock is saved, and wet management of the site reactivates carbon sequestration. To reach CCM targets, the first rewetting and paludiculture trials have been implemented in Latvia. In this article, we review the current status of paludiculture in Latvia and evaluate the pros and cons of their wider implementation. The majority of paludiculture projects and pilot studies in Latvia have not been published so far and are reported here for the first time. Our assessment of paludiculture shows that trails on Alnus, Phalaris, Phragmites, Sphagnum, and Typha installed by the private enterprises have promising results for upcoming large-scale implementation. There are available areas for paludiculture in Latvia, but the current legislation and national framework policies (environment, agriculture, forest, and climate) do not fully support such activities yet and must be adapted.

Relationship between adaptation and mitigation of climate change with the climate village program (ProKlim) In Paser Regency

This study aims to understand the relationship between the Climate Village Program (ProKlim) success rate and climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in Paser Regency. The results of the analysis showed that simultaneously climate change adaptation actions had a real effect on the success rate of ProKlim in Paser Regency by 81.45% with a significance level of 0.00054 (less than α = 0.05), while climate change mitigation actions have a real effect on the success rate of ProKlim in Paser Regency by 83.66% with a significance level of 0.0052 (less than α = 0.05). Meanwhile, the relationship of adaptation actions to the success rate of the ProKlim in Paser Regency is partially influenced by the efforts of control of climate change-related diseases with a significant level of 0.0305 (less than α=0.05). Meanwhile, climate change mitigation actions, it is partially influenced by low-emission agricultural cultivation efforts with a significant level of 0.0305 (less than α=0.05). Thus, the efforts to achieve the success of ProKlim cannot be done partially but must be carried out comprehensively because the impact of climate change has been felt in all aspects so it is necessary to apply all variables of climate change adaptation and mitigation sustainably.

Social capital of the local community in forest conservation for disaster mitigation

Social capital plays a significant role in forest conservation and community-based disaster mitigation efforts. The government has attempted to strengthen the social capital of the local community in forest conservation and disaster mitigation, but only a few have succeeded. This study examines the social capital of the local communities involved in forest conservation for disaster mitigation. This research applied a descriptive approach to the Salua Village, Kulawi District, Sigi Regency community. This study revealed that the structural social capital of the Salua village community was moderate to high in terms of forest conservation but had cognitive-social capital in the moderate to low category. The high structural social capital could not create collective action in forest conservation for disaster mitigation because the dominant actors in local institutions have low power in creating common knowledge about forest conservation and disaster mitigation. Important studies should be conducted to strengthen social capital in climate change mitigation actions to establish a common understanding of the importance of forest conservation in communities surrounding forest areas.

Carbon sequestration and storage capacity of Chinese fir at different stand ages

In southern China, Chinese fir Cunninghamia lanceolata is one of the most important native conifer trees, widely used in afforestation programs. This area has the largest forestland atmospheric carbon sink, and a relatively young stand age characterizes these forests. However, how C. lanceolata forests evolved regarding their ability to sequester carbon remains unclear. Here we present data on carbon storage and sequestration capacity of C. lanceolata at six stand ages (5−, 10−, 15−, 20−, 30− and 60 − year−old stands). Results show that the carbon stock in trees, understory, vegetation, litter, soil, and ecosystem significantly increased with forest age. The total ecosystem carbon stock increased from 129.11 to 348.43 Mg ha−1 in the 5− and 60 − year−old stands. The carbon sequestration rate of C. lanceolata shows an overall increase in the first two stand intervals (5–10 and 10–15), peaks in the 15–20 stand intervals, and then decreases in the 20–30 and 30–60 stand intervals. Our result revealed that carbon sequestration rate is a matter of tree age, with the highest sequestration rates occurring in the middle age forest (15–20 − year−old). Therefore, this information may be useful for national climate change mitigation actions and afforestation programs, since forests are primarily planted for this purpose.

Evaluation of the Climate Village Program to Improve Environmental Health

Climate change has a wide impact on the lives of people who are vulnerable to multidimensional disasters. Government efforts in tackling the impacts of climate change through the climate village program as implemented in Korong Pasa Surau Nagari Guguak, Padang Pariaman Regency. The study intends to measure the degree of success achieved in implementing community-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation in response to the challenges posed by climate change. The current investigation is a qualitative descriptive study conducted between March and April 2023.The participants for this study were recruited using a random chance sampling technique to verify that the selected individuals could adequately represent their respective groups. A cohort of five individuals was engaged as informants. The study's findings suggest evaluating the implementation of the climatic village program (Proklim) in Nagari Guguk Korong Pasa Surau. The assessment was carried out by considering the several elements of the climate village program activities, which encompassed adaptation activities aimed at addressing climate change (74.33%), climate change mitigation actions (17.33%), and an evaluation of the institution's sustainability and support (14.50%). The circumstance above demonstrates that the proklim in Nagari Guguak Korong Pasa Surau falls inside the moderately effective classification. In the future, to increase the success and sustainability of Proklim in the area, multisector support is needed so that Proklim can make its people able to adapt and mitigate climate change and create good environmental health

Green colonialism and decolonial feminism: A study of Wayúu women’s resistance in La Guajira

This qualitative study scrutinises how green energy investment affects Indigenous Wayúu people in Colombia’s La Guajira region. Employing coloniality of power and decolonial feminism frameworks, we delve into Wayúu women’s struggles and resilience in defending territories against large-scale wind energy projects. Our findings suggest that governments and businesses are ‘tuned in’ to the economic benefits of these projects, yet ‘tuned out’ from Indigenous peoples’ ontologies, concerns, needs and cosmovisions. This dynamic prompts questions about the unintended consequences of organisations’ engagement with Indigenous peoples through corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. Despite good intentions, CSR practices that are ‘tuned out’ from Indigenous peoples’ cosmovisions may inadvertently reinforce power imbalances and further marginalise Indigenous communities. Our study highlights the need to honour Indigenous territories and protect Indigenous women’s rights in long-term investments. Clean energy focus can mask green colonialism, which Wayúu women actively safeguard, upholding Indigenous worldviews via feminist decoloniality. We advocate for businesses to incorporate diverse perspectives beyond the dominant western worldview into their climate change mitigation actions and CSR strategies, and for public policies to balance decarbonisation efforts with Indigenous rights to contribute to sustainable and equitable energy transitions.

Climate Change Mitigation At City Level Through The Lens Of South Africa's Regulatory Framework For Bioenergy

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. To combat climate change the international community has agreed to keep the average temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Despite this consideration, the latest scientific evidence suggests that the planet has already warmed by 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. The slow reaction by national governments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions has prompted cities to take ownership of climate change mitigation action and drive global intervention from the sub-national level. These urban areas are home to more than half of the world's population and have immense energy requirements, and typically rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet this demand. Therefore, a shift to city level climate governance is significant as cities are both the victims and the culprits of climate change. Should cities supplant fossil fuels with renewable energy initiatives in meeting their energy demands, this would provide a significant boost to climate change mitigation efforts. Bioenergy as a form of renewable energy can potentially contribute to the energy mix in cities through biomass exploitation while simultaneously addressing climate change mitigation efforts. This article focusses on the role of bioenergy in the energy discourse in cities and the potential of law and policy to contribute to developing these biomass-based systems. The article provides insight into the South African bioenergy regulatory framework from an energy and climate change perspective and offers an account of what bioenergy can contribute to cities when considering the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Investigating biodiversity trends in different mitigation scenarios with a national integrated assessment model

ABSTRACT The inclusion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in climate mitigation pathways is critical and can be reached by assessing their consequences through the deployment of appropriate indicators to that end. Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are important tools for understanding possible impacts caused by adopting new policies. We investigate terrestrial biodiversity trends (life on land: SDG 15) for three different climate mitigation scenarios for Brazil: (1) A scenario compatible with a world that maintains its current policies with current deforestation rates in the Amazon and the Cerrado biomes; (2) A scenario in which Brazil fulfils its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC); and (3) A scenario compatible with a world that limits warming to 1.5°C. We use the Brazilian Land-Use and Energy System model (BLUES), a national IAM, to show the implications of the transitions involved in the above-mentioned scenarios for the country up to 2050. We conduct a post-processing analysis using consolidated biodiversity indicators to emphasize how different IAM greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation solutions present distinct positive and negative potential impacts on biodiversity in Brazil. However, our analysis does not consider the impacts associated with climate change, but only the risks imposed by mitigation policies. Our results indicate that biodiversity loss decreases in the scenarios from (1) to (3), implying that stronger climate change mitigation actions could result in smaller biodiversity losses. We conclude that Brazil has the opportunity to align its biodiversity and climate goals through nature-based solutions (NBS), such as forest conservation, restoration, pasture recovery, and the use of crop-pasture and agroforestry systems.