The Science
How nature-based solutions help combat climate change
GREENHOUSE GASES
The Climate is Changing
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) keep our planet at the right temperature for life. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the heat emitted by the Earth would escape into space and the Earth would have an average temperature of about -20°C. Too much GHG in the atmosphere however, traps heat from the sun and radiates it down to earth. The more GHG we release, the more heat from the sun is trapped in our atmosphere, and the more havoc is wreaked on the climate. As a result, the world is seeing increased volatity in our weather, with growing droughts, floods, and wildfires. In time and as temperatures increase, permafrost will thaw, sea levels will rise, oceans will become less habitable for sea life, and much of humanity could face insurmountable challenges.
GLOBAL WARMING
The Planet's Heating Up
To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, the Paris Agreement requires its signatories to reduce their GHG emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and to be net zero by 2050.
Even if we stopped all future emissions today, there is too much GHG in the atmosphere to prevent serious climate change. We need to start sequestering GHGs at scale.
SOLUTIONS
Nature-based Solutions
Nothing sequesters carbon out of the atmosphere at scale like nature-based solutions. Broadly speaking, nature-based solutions to address climate change fall into four categories:
Forestry
Wetlands
Restorative agriculture
Ocean-based practices
Restoring and protecting nature has the potential to sequester 10 gigatons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
OUR IMPACT
Conservation
At Arcmor, we finance nature-based carbon sequestration projects that create incentives, social, financial, and otherwise, for local and indigenous communities to protect, restore and develop natural habitats. Protecting nature increases biodiversity, generates meaningful employment where it is needed, provides sustainable water management, food security, and furthers the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Our specialist knowledge makes us the ideal partner for landowners seeking to develop high quality and long lasting carbon offset projects with a focus on significant co-benefits to local biodiversity and the community.
OUR IMPACT
Sustainable Agriculture
We and our development partners work hard to ensure that communities are better off moving to sustainable agricultural practices rather than slash and burn and other soil nutrient-depleting activities.
Working in collaboration with local agriculture experts and those who live and work in the communities where we develop our carbon sequestration projects, we help ensure that access to food, water, health, and other benefits are enhanced by ensuring that local interests are aligned with ours, and are not compromised in the pursuit of financial returns.
OUR IMPACT
Community
We work alongside local communities to help ensure that their way of life and the needs of the local and indigenous inhabitants are integrated into the conservation process. This co-dependence and alignment of interests help ensure the long term viability of our carbon sequestration projects, and maximises the value of the carbon credits they generate.
These communities are also trained in ways to sustainably protect the land from threats such as illegal logging and illegal agriculture. This empowers communities to maintain their waterways, biodiversity, and forests for future generations and gives them the knowledge to develop new sustainable techniques of their own for continued regeneration.