Plants, Soils and the Planet's Natural Hydrology are at the Core of Climate Control Focusing on the multidimensional nature of climate with its physical, chemical and biological aspects, Walter Jehne, an Australian agronomist, climatologist and microbiologist, places water, spongy soil aggregates and vegetation at the heart of Climate Control. This fresh Nature based way of looking at climate change provides a new and better understanding of many of the phenomena that often lack satisfactory explanations with models that put CO2 in the center: "why water, not CO2 and greenhouse gases (GHGs), is the dominant factor in climate phenomena", "Asian brown haze with 4% humidity, 90% relative humidity, and full of polluting smog", "Earth's decreasing albedo which increases global warming", "high-pressure heat domes over dry, barren areas","the role of agriculture in the destruction and restoration of desertifying ecosystems that are advancing all around the globe", "the crucial role of agriculture in overcoming Since 1900, terrestrial temperatures our climate crisis", or the drought and fire have risen more than 2x faster than maritime ones, since 1970 even ~3x crises in California which, without appropriate (1.5°C)! action, could lead to desertification and the collapse of its agricultural complex. On average, there is 60 times more water (up to ~120x) more water (H2O) than CO2 in the atmosphere (~25,000 vs 400 ppmv or 20 vs 0.8g/m3). Since 1970, the rise in mercury and popular have been on the rise. Even though we Their specific heat is 2.1 Joule/g for water and unrest are getting close to a critical point, progress and 0.8 J/g for CO2. Water has therefore an outlooks that go in the right direction are rare we seem to remain stuck with CO2 as the atmospheric heat value which is 65 times higher and main cause of Global Warming. than that of CO2. As far as the global infrared greenhouse effect is concerned, water dominates again by ~75 to 25%. The imbalance is even more pronounced with respect to their average residence time in the atmosphere. It is 8 to 10 days for the " liquid gold " against 100 to 300 years for CO2. Regarding the physicochemical properties and reactivity, the differences are again enormous. Between -80 and +80°C, CO2 is a relatively inert gas either mixed in with other gases or dissolved in a liquid or a solid, most often water with which it forms carbonic acid. Water, on the other hand, is by far the most abundant substance on the Blue Planet., It consists of a simple low mass ”Since water controls more than 95% of our planet's heat dynamics, our focus should be on water and the restoration of its cycles, not on CO2 emissions!” - WJ
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molecule (H2O) with a highly complex and unusual behavior. Covering about 70% of the Planet, it would form a layer about 3000 m thick if it were spread evenly over its entire surface. Always present where life is found, water is chemically highly reactive and plays a central role in biochemical reactions involving oxidation/ reduction, acid/alcaline and colloïdal processes. Water can behave both as an acid or an alkali, an oxidizing or reducing agent. As such it fulfills an incalculable number of functions and comes in many different forms, some very transparent with a blueish hue, others opaque and/or white: snow, ice, liquid, vapor, fog, mist, hazes, clouds {Earth's cooling albedo effect}, soil moisture, dew, plant sap, blood, chemical water bridges, multiple hydration layers, clusters, etc.. This brief comparison between these two crucial, inseparable, and in many ways polar mediums for life on Earth (CO2 -> O2 in photosynthesis, O2 -> CO2 for respiration, ATP <-> ADP for energy exchanges), also points the finger towards the central role that water and its natural cycles might play with respect to climate regulation. CO2 on the other hand is certainly a contributing factor but forms no clouds, has poor heat dynamics and no albedo effect. - This reading harbors a very optimistic Carbon rich sponges message and, via the repair of the Planet's ecosystems and are the substrate hydrology, gives us a multitude of powerful levers to overcome global warming and the resulting endemic freshwater and food shortages. of living soils, biodiversity These natural levers include restauration of damaged ecosystems bio-fertility, through planetary re-greening and the related increase in soil life, food & water security, biodiversity, bio-fertility, biomass production and humus levels in the and Life on Earth. form of carbon, water and nutrient rich sponges. Far from the many Photo Pierre Masson uncertainties and high costs of high-tech approaches, these factors can have immediate positive effects on water cycles, climate regulation and food production. The Planet’s natural and free air conditioning system
The small water cycle regulates the climate
Green means cool
Walter Jehne: How Healing Water Cycles can Cool the Climate
Source: Walter Jehne ”Climate change will persist until we heal the Planet’s water cycles!” Walter Jehne
We have the science, the innovations, blueprints and the clear self interest to make this change.
The problem of climate change is more complex than we think, but, as more and more re-greening initiatives are showing, might be easier, faster and cheaper to solve than we imagine!
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Walter Jehne’s climate and soil regeneration model in a nutshell Walter Jehne with his Bio-inclusive ABCD climate model puts water, spongy soil aggregates and vegetation in the center. Dealing with the multidimensional nature of climate with its biology, chemistry and physics, Jehne elucidates many phenomena that lack satisfactory explanations: ”why water and not CO2 and GHGs is the key”, ”Asian brown haze with 4% moisture, 90% relative humidity and pollutant smog”, ”diminishing of Earth’s albedo which increases global warming”, ”high-pressure heat domes over bare, dry areas”, ”humid aridifyinig drought”, the role of agriculture in eco-system destruction and desertification now and by our ancestors”, or California’s drought and fire crisis which, without appropriate action, may lead to desertification and the collapse of its huge agricultural complex.
”Since Water governs over 95% of our Planet’s heat Dynamics, the Focus should be on Water Cycle Restoration, not CO2 Emissions.” WJ Agriculture
Burn by fire or oxidation:
Three of Jehne’s statements
Maximum plant growth for maximum carbohydrate production via sun, green plants and photosynthesis.
-> CO2 from slash and burn, cultivation, bare soils, fallow, compaction, irrigation, chemical fertilizers, pesticides.
“For the last 4 billion years the climate of the Blue Planet has been controlled by hydrological processes. Over 90% of the global heat dynamics and balance is governed by a range of waterbased processes.” “Restoring natural processes via the regeneration of our landscapes is now critical in order to restore the former levels of high albedo clouds that naturally helped cool the planet.” ”Water accounts for about 80%, CO2 for 20% of the greenhouse effect,”
Biodiversity - 365 days/year
-> Aridification -> Global Warming
C sponge Dividends:
Carbon: microbial digestion
Water/nutrient availability
-> reduction (e-) binds water -> stable soil carbon sponges Raw materials: roots (40%), exudates (40%), litter (20%) -> Humates and glomalin,
Microbial cycles, Root domin.
Pest/drought resistance, Autonomy/very low input Productivity resilience (+yields)
1g of soil C holds 8g of water
-> Regeneration -> Global Cooling
Feeding and keeping our ”team” of soil microorganismes happy is the key of the system. According to Jehne, we have all it takes for greening the Planet and reversing desertification and Global Warming: the understanding, the know-how, the ressources and the pioneers showing the way. The outcome is in our hands and depends on how we tilt the carbon balance in favor of C and away from B. This balance is very poor, and usually negative, with conventional farming, but can reach 60 to 70% of the produced biomass as stable soil carbon sponges, in regenerative systems with sound water, soil, biomass and microbial management. Jehne Climate Model
We need more GREEN to cool the Planet One third of the world's land area is grassland, 70% of which is severely degraded, much of its former carbon NASA having been released into the atmosphere as CO2
Given the extent of deserts and desertifying areas located for the most part in the poorest regions of the Planet, the potential for restoring soils, vegetation and water cycles is enormous. Producing food and drinking water in quantity and quality, the deployment of EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS is crucial not only in terms of climate change, but also from an economic, ecological and social perspective.
“Restoring natural processes via the regeneration of our landscapes is now critical in order to restore the former levels of high albedo clouds that naturally helped cool the planet.” Walter” Jehne 3
Restoring climate starts with restoring damaged ecosystems and water cycles! This grassland longs for herbivores!
Source Savory Global
Grazing by herbivores is the most effective and cheapest way to restore grasslands, water cycles and climate, while returning excess carbon from the atmosphere back into the soil where it will enhance soil life, biodiversity, bio-fertility, productivity and system resilience!
Grasslands are at the heart of water cycle restoration and food security!
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rg Enla
Regreening the Planet starts Conventional management here!
1992
Australia
1999 Holistic Management (Regenerative grazing)
Savory Global - www.savory.global
50 hubs accrocs the globe 149 accredited professionnels 14 000 land managers trained 16 million ha holistiquely managed with herbivores
(much of this activity is found in hot, arid and poor countries where changes are major both in livelihoods and climate!)
Zimbabwé Rain has a hard time soaking into bare, dry soil, and runs off or evaporates quickly.
2004
Source Savory Global
The ”Forest Man of India” Rain soaks in Water losses are minimal
2007
Source Savory Global
He installed a 550ha forest in 40 years Biodiversity Has soared
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Partnering with Nature to re-green the planet From the document ”Reversing Global Warming with Simple, Low-tech Solutions” Based on the restoration of water and rain cycles, these lowtech systems require little energy, resources and investments. They can be effective and profitable after only a few years. Producing important benefits in terms of soil and landscape regeneration, food and water quality, security, job creation and socio-economic development, they can radically change living conditions and prospects of some of the poorest and most desolate regions of the South.
• Energy ef cient • Resource ef cient • Proven and safe practices • Modest investments • Fast payback (5 to 20 years) • Quick results (3 to 7 years) • Favorable socio-economic, ecological and carbon footprint
710 ha Brazilian Forest
By teaming up with Nature, this Brazilian couple has come up with a perfect way to reverse Global warming. Their solution is as effective and simple as it is profitable.
With their stewardship, they have restored water cycles, sequestered carbon and cooled the climate sustainably!
© Sebastião Salgado
China Loess Plateau Bad land stewardship ruined the cradle and food basket of the old Dynasties
...this regreening project brings them back to life!
Photos John D. Liu
2009
Karoo Desert
Holistic planed grazing sustainable system
Conv. continuous grazing leads to deserti cation
le Articfor
This river carries
of tons of Time ns millions soil to the sea o i t u l so
e Enlarg
The vegetation promotes water infiltration and storage and protects the soil from water and wind South Africa Holistic management on the left has brought back biodiversity and natural fertility by regenerating the soil, greening the desert, restoring water cycles and cooling the climate.
Zimbawe : Thanks to regenerative grazing, the vegetation comes back to life, the climate becomes more balanced and some creeks start flowing again.
Pakistan: Planting one billion trees to regenerate a 3,500 km2 area in 5 years! Has now been extended to 2028 and 10 billion trees.
India's Water Revolution : From Poverty to Permaculture Born in 2016, it is already the biggest Permaculture venture on Earth! Its basis is sound water management and the enthusiastic support of a highly motivated population. Initiated by the Paani Fondation, it has changed, in just 4 years, the lives and prospects of some 4000 of Indias poorest villages!
Soil life and biodiversity comme back!
Strong local support, reducing water loss thru runoff and keeping the rain falling during the Monsoon season inside the watershed, are the keys of the system. This is achieved through elaborate networks of harvesting, infiltration and storage of water, both underground and above ground, in order to cover the needs during the dry season.
State of Maharashtra
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For strong synergistic effects on water and climate cycles over wider areas and eventually at the planetary level, we need many more projects, thousands of them, interacting with each other to form virtuous feedback loops.
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1995
China Loess Plateau 2009
South Africa
Regreening the Planet starts here!
Savory Global
Gullies heal rainfall increases, temperatures drop and climate improves
We don’t have a Planet B, but we have Plants to Cool it! Restoring the Planet’s Damaged Ecosystems as if Life and People Mattered Reason for lots of optimism: we know the causes and have the solutions to mitigate
climate change and reverse global warming. By implementing thousands of greening ventures all around the Planet through soil and environmental restoration with the type of methodology described in this document, we can turn the tide within a few years. The many pioneering success stories show us that it can be done and also how we can do it. In some cases like the Indian initiative ”From Poverty to Permaculture” with its “Water Cup Competition“ and strong community involvement, the first significant benefits of this grassroots tsunami came as soon as the first season! Being a highly motivating enterprise, ecosystem restoration will provide new optimism and meaningful jobs for millions of people, in particular youngsters looking for meaningful work. Regenerative Agriculture, Perma-culture and various other agro-ecological systems propose effective SOLUTIONS for restoring soil life, bio-diversity, humus (organic C), biofertility and hydrological cycles. By reducing, in most cases eliminating agrochemical inputs all together, these avenues open doors for moving rapidly towards productive and sustainable eco-systems without drowning in a jungle of weeds or suffering from poor yields and food shortages. Being synergistic, crop production and animal husbandry should be integrated wherever possible to reach optimum soil regeneration, agricultural productivity and food security.
What if the most destitute regions of the world and their impoverished populations were first in line to save our Planet from overheating? Given the size, location and diversity of these dry-land areas, the majority being grasslands, their impact on climate change is huge and very likely a determining factor, if not THE dominating factor, for winning our race against global warming! Isn’t that a compelling reason for the rich industrialized countries of the North to join and strongly support, financially and otherwise, the poor countries of the South to restore their desertifying landscapes? Such a cooperation wouldn’t only change the climate, but has the power to change the World.
We have the understanding, the knowledge, the know-how, the blueprints and the means to repair in a short time, what took us and our ancestors several millennia to ruin! In view of the large scale and ongoing ecosystem breakdowns, Nature Needs Man as Partner and Co-Creator to heal its damaged ecosystems. Zimbabwé Rain has difficulty infiltrating the bare, dry soil, and runs off or evaporates quickly
2004
Rain soaks in. Minimal loss 2007
Savory Global
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Bibliography Research and documentation John D. Liu https://knaw.academia.edu/JohnDLiu Jean-Marc Jancocici
What is a climate model? What are the models’ first conclusions? - models with CO2 as primary warming criteria.
Kravčík, Pokorný, Kohutiar, Kováč, Tóth Kravčík_&_al-Water for the Recovery of the Climate - A New Water Paradigm g slowin n i s s g Machmuller 2015, Rowntree 2016, Stanley 2018, Teague 2018 e p ro g r ducin e o r n e d Four publications on carbon sequestration g mad r m i n g a n v e n t s b y n i v a H E a ate h-tech al W Markus Dotterweich G l o b m e C l i m G and hig e e d H ly n Dotterweich-The history of human-induced soil erosion E x t r e g CO 2, G rgent u n e i w w sion! i follo king, Rattan Lal V n i h w t e ed nd a N Rattan-Managing soils for negative feedback to climate change b a s a s a e d Fresh I Walter Jehne Video conference: Jehne-Climate Solutions for a Blue Planet Interview: Jehne-Supporting the Soil Carbon Sponge Climate Model: Jehne-Restoring water cycles to naturally cool climates and reverse global warming
Partial overview of organizations engaged in large scale eco-system restoration • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Bonn Challenge (350 Million Hectares by 2030): https://www.bonnchallenge.org/ Brazilian Forest Restoration (Sebastiao & Leila Salgado): 2 million trees in 20 years Caladonian Forest restoration: https://alanwatsonfeatherstone.com/restoring-the-caledonian-forest/ China Loess Plateau Restoration: 2016 publication by John Liu and Bradley Hiller. Commonland: Building a new balance between ecology, economics and hope Ecosystem Restoration Camps: https://ecosystemrestorationcamps.org/ Forest Man of India: Jadav Payeng Great Green Wall of Africa: https://www.greatgreenwall.org/ Mexican Initiative 20x20: Restoring 1 Million Hectares of Degraded Land Paani Foundation (India’s Water Revolution): https://www.paanifoundation.in/ Pakistan, Ten billion tree tsunami: http://tbttp.gov.pk/about-tbttp/ Savory Institute, Facilitating the regeneration of Grasslands: https://savory.global/ SEKEM - Sustainable Development since 1977: www.sekem.com UN Environment Programme (UNEP): The world’s biggest ecosystem restoration project SER (Society for Ecological Restoration): Ecosystem Restoration Directory: https://www.ser-rrc.org/directory/)
All really important innovations and changes normally start from tiny minorities of people who do use their creative freedom.” Ernst F. Schumacher (1911-1977) Economist and author of ”Small is Beautiful”
Founder of the Appropriate Technology Movement
Solving the Climate Crisis by 1
Restoring Natural Water Cycles
This article is meant as a contribution towards the ongoing debate on Global Warming and Climate Change. It is in part based on ”Reversing Global Warming with Simple, Low-tech Solutions” November 2021
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Ulrich Schreier F-49370 Vernoux
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