Drawdown Nexus

The oceans store an incredible share, nearly one quarter, of the carbon emitted by humans.

Did you know enough calories are produced on the world’s croplands to feed 14.5 billion people? But it’s not just about how much we grow – it’s what we do with what’s grown.

At Project Drawdown, we have spent years proving that if humanity implements the climate solutions we already have, at the scale we’re capable of, we can and will bend the curve on climate change. The science is clear. We know what needs to happen, and we know we can do it if we choose to. So why does it still feel so hard?

Those of us who work in and think about climate change often act as if we’re at a crossroads. 

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.

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. 

Though we live on an undeniably watery planet, the ocean and the seafloor remain largely unexplored.

Every summer, country representatives and climate professionals gather in Bonn, Germany, for UN dialogues on climate change.

Climate change is affecting communities around the world, threatening human health and well-being. 

There are a few things that are non-negotiable for all life on Earth, among them, water, food, and shelter. 

When people think of climate solutions, they often focus on smokestacks, tailpipes, and other artifacts of our fossil-fueled economy. That’s fitting since roughly two-thirds of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from producing and burning oil, gas, coal, and other highly polluting fuels. But it overlooks other critical emissions sources – including deforestation – that are also accelerating the climate crisis.

Climate change is often framed as humanity’s greatest challenge. And for good reason. 

To meet climate and health goals, countries must fund black carbon reduction at the scale and urgency that the threat warrants.Growing up, visiting my grandparents in rural India was the highlight of my summer vacation. In the 1990s, before social media began to consume pastimes, frolicking around with my cousins and admiring the beautiful nature was enough to satiate my childish heart.

Climate change has given us some sense of how interconnected we all are. 

Last week’s release of the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis report distills almost a decade of the latest climate science into an urgent, systemic call to action — imploring us to mobilize resources to tackle climate change and poverty at the same time if we are to ensure a just and sustainable future.

This story was originally published by The Revelator.  What’s better for plants and wildlife is better for the climate. But where do we start to accomplish the best results?