The science of climate change
Scientific consensus is clear: climate change is ‘widespread, rapid and intensifying’. Without immediate, large-scale emissions reductions in the next few decades, we will surpass temperature rise of 1.5C or even 2C and face the worst affects of climate change.
Natural climate solutions, those that harness the power of nature, can provide up to a third of the emissions reductions needed to 2030 to meet our climate goals. However, investments into these solutions are not ramping up fast enough, and there is now a USD 4.1 trillion financing gap in nature by 2050.
Meanwhile, ecosystem degradation, both on land and at sea, is fuelling a resource and food crisis, driving poverty and inequality globally, as well as contributing to mass biodiversity loss. Today, over a million species are threatened with extinction.
In the case of forests, deforestation and forest degradation is responsible for 15% of global emissions, and tropical forests now emit more carbon than they capture. Forests are a critical natural climate solution, acting as carbon sponges to absorb CO2 while also driving important core benefits such as supporting ecosystems, protecting habitats and enabling sustainable forest economies for local and indigenous communities. Keeping our forests standing is a critical and cost-effective climate solution.
Global Paris aligned decarbonisation pathway
Natural climate solutions have the potential to cost effectively ($10- 100/tCO2) mitigate 37% of the required emissions to meet a pathway consistent with Paris.
The business opportunity
Under the current global policies scenario and unconditional and conditional NDC scenarios, we will miss the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. Businesses can close this emissions gap by financing projects that protect and restore natural carbon sinks. High-integrity carbon credits allow businesses to rebalance their residual emissions, alongside deep scope 1, 2 and 3 value chain reductions.Ecosphere+ works at this nexus, partnering with stakeholders to scale private sector finance to close the emissions gap through conserving nature and empowering local and indigenous stewards of the land.
We can build a flourishing climate and nature positive economy if we properly value nature’s assets. Learn more about our services and how we work to mobilise finance for carbon projects globally.
