Journal Article - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Permafrost Carbon Feedbacks Threaten Global Climate Goals
Abstract
Rapid Arctic warming has intensified northern wildfires and is thawing carbon-rich permafrost. Carbon emissions from permafrost thaw and Arctic wildfires, which are not fully accounted for in global emissions budgets, will greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that humans can emit to remain below 1.5 °C or 2 °C. The Paris Agreement provides ongoing opportunities to increase ambition to reduce society's greenhouse gas emissions, which will also reduce emissions from thawing permafrost. In December 2020, more than 70 countries announced more ambitious nationally determined contributions as part of their Paris Agreement commitments; however, the carbon budgets that informed these commitments were incomplete, as they do not fully account for Arctic feedbacks. There is an urgent need to incorporate the latest science on carbon emissions from permafrost thaw and northern wildfires into international consideration of how much more aggressively societal emissions must be reduced to address the global climate crisis.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America .
For more information on this publication:
Please contact
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
For Academic Citation:
Natali, Susan M, John P. Holdren, Brendan M. Rogers, Rachael Treharne, Philip B. Duffy, Rafe Pomerance and Erin MacDonald. "Permafrost Carbon Feedbacks Threaten Global Climate Goals." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 118. no. 21. (May 25, 2021)
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Presentation
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Thawing Arctic Permafrost: A Local and (Likely) Global Disaster
Video
- National Academy of Sciences
Thawing Arctic Permafrost: Regional and Global Impacts
Audio
- In This Climate
How the Arctic Caught Fire
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Analysis & Opinions
- The Sunday Times
China is Using Every Trick for World Domination
Paper
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Attacking Artificial Intelligence: AI’s Security Vulnerability and What Policymakers Can Do About It
Journal Article
- Research Policy
The Relationship Between Science and Technology
Abstract
Rapid Arctic warming has intensified northern wildfires and is thawing carbon-rich permafrost. Carbon emissions from permafrost thaw and Arctic wildfires, which are not fully accounted for in global emissions budgets, will greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that humans can emit to remain below 1.5 °C or 2 °C. The Paris Agreement provides ongoing opportunities to increase ambition to reduce society's greenhouse gas emissions, which will also reduce emissions from thawing permafrost. In December 2020, more than 70 countries announced more ambitious nationally determined contributions as part of their Paris Agreement commitments; however, the carbon budgets that informed these commitments were incomplete, as they do not fully account for Arctic feedbacks. There is an urgent need to incorporate the latest science on carbon emissions from permafrost thaw and northern wildfires into international consideration of how much more aggressively societal emissions must be reduced to address the global climate crisis.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America .Natali, Susan M, John P. Holdren, Brendan M. Rogers, Rachael Treharne, Philip B. Duffy, Rafe Pomerance and Erin MacDonald. "Permafrost Carbon Feedbacks Threaten Global Climate Goals." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 118. no. 21. (May 25, 2021)
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Presentation - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Thawing Arctic Permafrost: A Local and (Likely) Global Disaster
Video - National Academy of Sciences
Thawing Arctic Permafrost: Regional and Global Impacts
Audio - In This Climate
How the Arctic Caught Fire
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Analysis & Opinions - The Sunday Times
China is Using Every Trick for World Domination
Paper - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Attacking Artificial Intelligence: AI’s Security Vulnerability and What Policymakers Can Do About It
Journal Article - Research Policy
The Relationship Between Science and Technology