World will need 1bn hectares to implement land-based climate mitigation pledges

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🗞️ Driving the news: A recent study conducted by the University of Melbourne and Climate Resource revealed the immense land requirements for implementing land-based climate mitigation pledges
• The study found that fulfilling these pledges would require about 910-1,060 million hectares of land, an area larger than the United States

🔭 The context: This finding builds on the 2022 Land Gap Report's observations that reforestation and restoration projects constitute the largest portion of land area pledged for carbon removal
• However, the report criticizes current climate pledges for overemphasizing tree planting and potentially disrupting ecosystems and food security

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The analysis underscores the impracticality of relying heavily on land-based strategies like reforestation
• It highlights the necessity of transparent and credible nationally-determined goals that focus on phasing out fossil fuels

⏭️ What's next: The upcoming COP28 is expected to reassess these findings and prioritize fossil fuel phase-out
• The emphasis is on ensuring global warming stays below 1.5 degrees Celsius, moving away from land-dependent strategies that may delay climate action and cause ecological harm

💬 One quote: "It is essential that [Nationally Determined Contributions] are transparent and credible, not relying on false solutions like biological carbon offsetting and bioenergy carbon capture and storage." (Kate Dooley, lead author of the Land Gap Report)

📈 One stat: The study highlights that 75% of the required land for climate pledges comes from high-emitting, wealthy nations, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Saudi Arabia

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