There is no Planet B, but there are lots of Plants to Cool it! Partnering with Nature or taking the high-tech route: that is the question Partnering with Nature to re-green the Planet: based on the restoration of water and rain cycles, these low-tech 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 security, job creation and socio-economic development, they can radically change the living conditions for all of us, in particular for many of the poorest and most desolate regions of the Planet.
• 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
Restoration of a 710 ha forest
Brazil
Good water management, green soil cover and humus accumulation are the basis of restoration, sustainability and a cooler more temperate climate!
Bare ground, scorching heat, soil erosion, gullying, desertification.
© 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 erosion. 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.
The High-Tech Route • CCS technologies • Solar geoengineering • Food engineering
Zimbawe : Thanks to regenerative grazing, the vegetation comes back to life, the climate becomes more balanced and some creeks start flowing again.
• Experimental • Full of technical unknowns • Highly energy, resource and capital intensive • Expensive • Timing: ???? • Financial sinkhole • Uncertain results • Faustian Bargain
Direct air capture of CO2 St Fergus in Scotland could be one of several hubs for industry to capture their carbon emissions and send them underground
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.
High-Tech - High-Cost - High_Risk
CCS technology
Diving adventure into the deep unknown
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Even under the unlikely IPCC low scenario (SSP1-1.9), life on our Planet by 2050, could get very complicated for many !