Drawdown^® Insights

Our global food system is the largest source of human-caused methane – we ignore it at our peril

If you care about climate change, you might be feeling a bit bruised and battered by 2025. From the inauguration of a U.S. president committed to undermining renewable energy to an underwhelming COP30, it’s been – well, a year. But may we offer some good news? Here at Project Drawdown, we have continued to move climate solutions forward despite the headwinds, as evidenced by the perspectives chronicled in the 21 Insights posts we published over the past year.

This year’s major United Nations climate talks, COP30, fell short of many expectations. Despite being held in Belém, Brazil, known as the “gateway to the Amazon,” issues such as stopping deforestation and transforming global food systems received relatively little attention. While some bright spots emerged, overall progress was minimal.

Every potential climate solution on the Drawdown Explorer begins as a hypothesis. This sounds geeky, but we’re scientists – we can’t help it. It’s the way we think. Our hypothesis looks something like this: “If we do [name of climate solution], it will [reduce emissions or remove carbon dioxide] by [how it works]”.

Tropical deforestation is a leading driver of climate change and biodiversity loss. 

As we approach the holidays, I can’t help but think about food.My uncle’s green bean casserole, my new recipe for pomegranate-glazed sweet potatoes, the smell of sage, garlic, and rosemary wafting throughout the kitchen – every meal tells a story. For me, food is personal and emotional. It’s how I show love, how I connect with my culture, and, lately, it’s become a big part of how I think about taking climate action.

Southeast Asia is one of the most carbon-rich places on Earth. The region is home to dense tropical forests, as well as peatlands and mangroves, which together store massive amounts of carbon above and below ground. But when trees are cut down and peatlands are drained, these carbon stores are released into the atmosphere. 

Heat pumps have been around for a long time. I mean a really long time. The first heat pump was reportedly built in 1856 to dry salt in salt marshes. Today’s heat pumps, however, are far more useful. In fact, they are one of the most important technologies we have for slashing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. 

Another Climate Week NYC has come and gone, leaving the Project Drawdown team feeling inspired and energized for the work ahead. Over the week, our staff participated in more than a half dozen events, reaching thousands of people from around the world.

The international climate community is clear that net zero emissions, wherein we don’t emit more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than can be removed, are what we need to achieve to halt global warming and the most dire effects of climate change.