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Learn moreImplementing practices that sequester carbon in the soil and recapturing even a fraction of the soil carbon debt accrued over the past 12,000 years would be a significant carbon drawdown strategy. Rebuilding soil carbon stocks is also regarded as a key pillar of improving soil health and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Despite these dual benefits of managing cropland for soil carbon sequestration, farmers’ adoption rates of carbon-storing practices remain very low. Given the high corporate demand for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a market that can connect buyers with sellers of soil carbon credits could rapidly scale adoption of carbon-friendly agricultural practices. However, a market must have strong and enforceable rules in place to ensure that credits generated are real, additional (emissions reductions would go beyond “business as usual”), and likely to lead to long-term net climate benefits.
Woodwell Climate Research Center is working with agricultural and environmental leaders to identify and close key information gaps to enable effective soil carbon markets.
Our Work
Impact
Scaling soil carbon sequestration, as with all nature-based climate solutions, requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. This project is filling key knowledge gaps and providing policymakers with shovel-ready solutions to ensure soil carbon markets can succeed in delivering real climate benefits.