Restoring nature

Kate Dooley & Zebedee Nicholls

Restoring nature is no silver bullet for global warming

Restoring degraded environments, such as by planting trees, is often touted as a solution to the climate crisis. But our new research shows that this, while important, is no substitute for preventing fossil fuel emissions to limit global warming.

We calculated the maximum potential for responsible nature restoration to absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. And we found that, combined with ending deforestation by 2030, this could reduce global warming 0.18°C by 2100. In comparison, current pledges from countries put us on track for 1.9-2C warming.

This is far from what’s needed to mitigate the catastrophic impacts of climate change, and is well above the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement. And it pours cold water on the idea we can offset our way out of ongoing global warming.

The priority remains rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, which have contributed 86% of all CO₂ emissions in the past decade.

Deforestation must also end, with land use, deforestation and forest degradation contributing 11% of global emissions. The hype around nature restoration

Growing commitments to net-zero climate targets have seen an increasing focus on nature restoration to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, based on claims nature can provide over one-third of climate mitigation needed by 2030.

However, the term “nature restoration” often encompasses a wide range of activities, some of which actually degrade nature. This includes monoculture tree plantations, which destroy biodiversity, increase pollution and remove land available for food production.

Indeed, we find the hype around nature restoration tends to obscure the importance of restoring degraded landscapes, and conserving existing forests and other ecosystems already storing carbon.

This is why we applied a “responsible development” framework to nature restoration for our study. Broadly, this means restoration activities must follow ecological principles, respect land rights and minimise changes to land use.

This requires differentiating between activities that restore degraded lands and forests (such as ending native forest harvest or increasing vegetation in grazing lands), compared to planting a new forest.

The distinction matters. Creating new tree plantations means changing the way land is used. This presents risks to biodiversity and has potential trade-offs, such as removing important farmland.

On the other hand, restoring degraded lands does not displace existing land uses. Restoration enhances, rather than changes, biodiversity and existing agriculture.

We suggest this presents the maximum “responsible” land

Melbourne University researchers, Kate Dooley and Zebedee Nicholls, accept that while restoring nature is a laudable thing, it's no silver bullet when it comes to making a worthwhile difference.

restoration potential that’s available for climate mitigation. We found this would result in a median 378 billion tonnes of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere between 2020 and 2100.

That might sound like a lot but, for perspective, global CO₂ equivalent emissions were 59 billion tonnes in 2019 alone. This means the removals we could expect from nature restoration over the rest of the century is the same as just six years worth of current emissions.

Based on this CO₂ removal potential, we assessed the impacts on peak global warming and century-long temperature reduction.

We found nature restoration only marginally lowers global warming – and any climate benefits are dwarfed by the scale of ongoing fossil fuel emissions, which could be over 2,000 billion tonnes of CO₂ between now and 2100, under current policies.

But let’s say we combine this potential with a deep decarbonisation scenario, where renewable energy is scaled up rapidly and we reach net zero emissions globally by 2050.

Then, we calculate the planet would briefly exceed a 1.5C temperature rise, before declining to 1.25-1.5C by 2100.

Of course, phasing out fossil fuels while restoring degraded lands and forests must also be coupled with ending deforestation. Otherwise, the emissions from deforestation will wipe out any gains from carbon removal.

Given this, we also explored the impact of phasing out ongoing land-use emissions, to reach net-zero in the land sector by 2030.

As with restoration, we found halting deforestation by 2030 has a very small impact on global temperatures, and would reduce warming by only around 0.08C over the century. This was largely because our baseline scenario already assumed governments will take some action. Increasing deforestation would lead to much larger warming.

Taken together – nature restoration plus stopping deforestation – end-of-century warming could be reduced by 0.18C . Is this enough?

If we enter a low-emissions pathway to limit global warming to 1.5C this century, we expect global temperature rise to peak in the next one to two decades.

As our research shows, nature restoration will unlikely be done quickly enough to offset the fossil emissions and notably reduce these global peak temperatures.

But let us be clear. We are not suggesting nature restoration is fruitless, nor unimportant. In our urgency to mitigate climate change, every fraction of a degree of warming we can prevent counts.

Restoring degraded landscapes is also crucial for planetary health – the idea human health and flourishing natural systems are inextricably linked.

What’s more, protecting existing ecosystems – such as intact forests, peatlands and wetlands – has an important immediate climate benefit, as it avoids releasing the carbon they store.

What our research makes clear is that it’s dangerous to rely on restoring nature to meet our climate targets, rather than effectively and drastically phasing out fossil fuels. We see this reliance in, for instance, carbon offset schemes.

Retaining the possibility of limiting warming to 1.5C requires rapid reductions in fossil fuel emissions before 2030 and global net-zero emissions by 2050, with some studies even calling for 2040.

Wealthy nations, such as Australia, should achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions earlier than the global average based on their higher historical emissions.

We now need new international cooperation, agreements to stop expansion of fossil fuels globally, and for governments to strengthen their national climate pledges under the Paris Agreements ratcheting mechanism. Promises of carbon dioxide removals via land cannot justify delays in these necessary actions.

Colour graphs show how the world is warming up

Colour graphics created by climate scientist Ed Hawkins of Reading University in the UK have significantly simplified the task of understanding how the world is warming.

The origins of the graph project date back to 2016, but recently, it was upgraded with an online presentation that enables anyone to download large images that are free to use wherever you wish. Ed's spiral graphic of our warming world was used in the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

New York Times weather writer, Jason Samenow, described the graphic as "the most compelling global warming visualization ever made."

Hawkins, a lead author for the IPCC 6th Assessment Report, received the Royal Society's 2018 Kavli Medal, in part "for actively communicating climate science and its various implications with broad audiences".

Since their release, people have found all kinds of ways to use the graphics; in one case a Tesla car was striped top to bottom, but common uses for them are on hats or T-shirts, on ties (popular with male weather presenters) on trains and more. Get your stripes at: showyourstripes.info/s/globe

Temperature changes in Australia (above) and in New Zealand since 1901.

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10 IDEAS FOR BETTER HEALTH

Less Alcohol, More Tea Less Meat, More Vegetables Less Salt, More Vinegar Less Sugar, More Fruit Less Eating, More Chewing Less Words, More Action Less Greed, More Giving Less Worry, More Sleep Less Driving, More Walking Less Anger, More Laughter

Written by @the.herbal.remedies

SMELL THAT ROSEMARY

Did you know that not only does eating the herb rosemary have many health benefits like anti-inflammatory, lowering blood sugar, and supporting brain health, but also the aroma of rosemary has been linked to improving mood, clearing the mind, and relieving stress in people with chronic anxiety or stress hormone imbalances?

REPLACE COCONUT MILK OR CREAM

Do you like a creamy curry but don't want to use coconut milk or cream that is high in calories and fat? One idea would be to replace it with either soy or almond milk with a tablespoon of cornflour.

STOP MISO PASTE DRYING

Have you found that the Miso Paste in the fridge, once opened, can dry out?

One solution can be to take off the lid and place plastic wrap or muslin cloth over the paste, push it right down onto the top, and then replace the lid.

POWER COMPANIES PROMOTING WALKING

It is great to see power companies, in this case, Mercury, giving incentive points on discounting power to get people walking. Using their app hooked to your Fitbit or phone, counting your steps over days. Why not take advantage of it? Especially in a day and age when everything is super expensive?

TOP TIPS FROM DR. MICHAEL GREGER

Below are some tips from one of our leading plant-based doctors, Dr Greger (nutritionfacts.org), taken from his How Not To Die cookbook (see p.45) • If using dried beans, cook them in large batches and then portion and freeze them. I used to use canned beans until I discovered how easy it is to prepare dried beans from scratch using an electric pressure cooker. • Instead of making one or two servings at a time, cook a large pot of a staple grain or a grain with a quick-cooking legume, such as lentils, mixed in. Then, simply portion and freeze until you want to thaw, heat, and enjoy. • Prepare double batches of recipes for long-cooking dishes, such as stews, soups, or chillies. You’ll not only save time—you’ll get more enhanced flavour when you reheat. They’re even better when served later in the week or after being frozen for a time. • Make seasoning blends, sauces, or dressings ahead of time to have on hand.

USING BLENDED WHOLE LEMONS AND LIMES

And one last tip from Dr Greger: Instead of cooking with lemon or lime juice, use the blended whole fruit to get more nutritional benefits. When you use just the juice, you lose out on the fibre and all the nutrition that was attached to it. Here’s a great time-saver when cooking with blended lemon or lime. Peel and blend a whole lemon and then freeze it in 1-teaspoon portions—a small silicone ice cube tray is ideal for this. Then, grab a cube from the freezer whenever you need it!  GOT SOME GREAT TIPS TO SHARE? CONTACT ME AT CATHERINE@WHOLEFOODLIVING.LIFE

The Podcast selections below cover food and health issues and provide quick access to a deeper understanding of what whole food eating can achieve. Listening to podcasts on a regular basis is a great way to increase your understanding of WFPB and keep yourself on track. Dominic Lomiwes on Blackcurrents

We Need To Talk. Toni Street chats to Plant and Food Research's Dominic Lomiwes about blackcurrents and why should we be adding them to our diets?

Functional Foods for Bone Health

Karen Osborne talks with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, from reinventhealthcare.com, on bone health and the power of food and fitness to strengthen bones.

What led me to a plant-based diet

In this podcast Kelly Klepfer at NutritionStudies.org talks about how a breast cancer diagnosis led her to a plant-based diet.

Become mindful in minutes with Kerry Smith

The Terri Cole show talks to Kerry Smith from Yoga For You about the reasons you should consider incorporating a daily meditation practice into your life

Dr Hall - Understanding Carbs

In this episode of Veggie Doctor Radio, iLifestyle Medicine physician Dr. Iris Schrijver on why our lifestyle habits & behaviors are foundational to our wellbeing and longevity.

4 Key Changes - reverse heart disease

Dr Dean Ornish talks with Dietitian Lisa Henderson on the 4 key lifestyle changes you can make to reverse heart disease as well as other common chronic diseases.

Optimise your immune system

The PCRM Exam Room Chuck Carroll talks to Dr. Robynne Chutkan on learning how to optimize your immune system and microbiome while reducing inflammation in your gut.

Transform negative thinking

Dr Scott Glassman talks to plantbaseddfw on having many ways to live optimally. A Happier You® is a seven-week programme to increase joy and meaning in life.

The YouTube selections below cover a range of lifestyle, food and health issues. They include specialist tips and easy access to a deeper understanding of what whole food plant-based eating can achieve.

Australia's imperilled plants

Threatened plants have declined at an alarming rate in Australia. This is eye opening. https://tinyurl.com/nhmwe5k5

Dr Greger the on optimal vinegar dose

How much vinegar should you consume with a meal to reduce the spike in blood sugar, insulin, and triglycerides? https://tinyurl.com/y46xvuh5

Baked sweet potato food truck

Baked sweet potato is called “Yakiimo” in Japan & is sold on foodtrucks, Would love to see these down under. http://tiny.cc/zj9puz

Diet ... how big a role can it play?

Diet ... how big a role can it play? - Dr Mandy Bergstrom Part one of her address at 'Hope for Health 2022' http://tiny.cc/5p7yuz

What's the problem with what we eat?

What's the problem with what we eat? - Dr Mark Craig Part one of his address at 'Hope for Health 2022 http://tiny.cc/2p7yuz

Obesity - a national security Issue

Lieutenant General Mark Phillip Hertling talks about the change in recruits due to the obesogenic environment. http://tiny.cc/ip7yuz

Show us how to eat more plants

Chef AJ talks with PLANTSTRONG’s Rip Esselstyn, who shows us how to eat more plants http://tiny.cc/569yuz

Dr Katz: The truth about food

Part One of a one day symposium on plant-based health at Suny Downstate Medical Center in New York https://tinyurl.com/3vd54kxz

British family doctor Gemma Newman explores how a simple change in diet helps many common chronic illnesses - from diabetes and heart disease to obesity - and the science that explains why it works. Contains over 60 delicious meal ideas.

From the groundbreaking results of his twenty-year nutritional study, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn illustrates that a plantbased, oil-free diet not only prevents the progression of heart disease but can also reverse its effects.

This is a book that will let you live longer, reduce your need for medications, and improve your health dramatically. It is a book that will change the way you want to eat. Follow the Eat to Live diet, you will lose weight faster than you ever thought possible. Lisle and Goldhamer offer unique insights into the factors that make us susceptible to dietary and lifestyle excesses and present ways to restore the biological processes designed by nature to keep us running at maximum efficiency and vitality.

The film's companion cookbook, The PlantPure Nation Cookbook brings a powerful, science-based approach to nutrition from the big screen to your kitchen with some of the same mouthwatering recipes that kick-started a revolution.

Colin T Campell's Whole is an absolutely eye-opening, paradigm-changing journey through some cutting-edge thinking on nutrition. It is a scientific tour de force, that has powerful implications for our health and for the future of our world. T. Colin Campbell and his team at Cornell University, in partnership with teams in China and England, embarked upon the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease. Their results still astound.

Dr Dean Ornish's research has proven that lifestyle changes can reverse - undo! The progression of many of the most common and costly chronic diseases and even begin reversing ageing at a cellular level. Several insurance companies cover his programme.

Want to eat healthily, but worried it will cost too much? Looking to save on grocery bills, without compromising on nutrition value or flavour? This book will answer all your questions. Great if you need to keep the food bill tight. Great inspiration here. Why rely on drugs and surgery to cure you of life-threatening disease when the right decisions prevent you from falling ill to begin with? How Not to Die gives effective, scientifically proven nutritional advice to prevent our biggest killers.

Neal Barnard, MD, a leading authority on nutrition and health, offers insight into how dietary changes can alleviate years of stress, pain, and illness. What's more, he also includes delicious and easyto-make hormone-balancing recipes.

Before Dr Barnard's scientific breakthrough, most health professionals believed that once you developed diabetes, you were stuck with it. We know now that this is simply not true. Barnard has shown it is possible to tackle type 2 diabetes. Suzy Amis Cameron - environmental advocate, former actor, and mom of five, presents an easy guide for you to improve your health and shrink your personal carbon footprint. Just swap one meat- and dairy-based meal for a plant-based one.

Sophie Steven's stunning cookbook is packed with over 100 delicious, vibrant plant-based, gluten-free and refined-sugar-free recipes. Some great recipes and taste sensations to try. A book that will benefit the whole family.

Rip Esselstyn arms readers with the knowledge they need to win any argument with those who doubt the health benefits of a plant-based diet and to convince any number of curious carnivores to change their diets once and for all.

MILKED

Directed by Amy Taylor and presented by indigenous activist Chris Huriwai, MILKED has been racking up some massive viewing numbers worldwide. This Kiwi created doco takes a hard look at industrial dairy farming in New Zealand and shows how it 'milks' not only animals but farmers, consumers, rivers, the land and the climate. MILKED attacks the cynical marketing jargon used to hide the negative impacts of an industry many Kiwis have come to accept as one of the vital vertebras in the country's financial backbone. Available at: join.waterbear.com/milked

Forks over Knives

The seminal film of the WFPB movement that has impacted millions the world over. Forks over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the chronic diseases that afflict us, can be controlled or even reversed by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. Available on Amazon & iTunes

.The Game Changers

A documentary film that follows several elite vegan athletes. It gives a broad overview of the benefits of plant-based eating and contains great personality interviews with people that have made the change. A must for all sports coaches. Available on Netflix

The Big FAT Lie

Produced by Kiwi documentary filmmaker, Grant Dixon, this movie traces his efforts to discover why he wasn't told about problems with meat and dairy. If he'd known he could have saved himself a heart attack. He asks why he wasn't told about WFPB. On iTunes

What The Health

A 2017 documentary film which critiques the health impact of meat, fish, eggs and dairy product consumption, and questions the practices of leading health and pharmaceutical organisations. Is there a conspiracy here? Check it out on Netflix.

Diet Fiction

This film calls to attention the most popular diets on the planet and draws together several misconceptions about weight loss and nutrition. Filmmaker Michal Siewierski presents a punchy case and followed it up TakeOut. Bottom line message, go WFPB. View on Amazon.

Code Blue

Code Blue reveals lapses in the current state of medicine and provides a common sense solution by featuring the practise of lifestyle medicine to prevent, manage and reverse chronic diseases. It covers hurdles to such a change and looks at the barriers. View on Amazon.

Take a break

Healthy crossword

Across 1. niggler (6) 4. pill (6) 8. pungent spice p.41 (8) 12. equal part (4) 14. senior members p.26 (6) 17. crushed durum wheat p.54 (8) 19. ... university p.20 (10) 20. ...esselstyn p.26 (4) 21. chile paste p.44 (7) 22. main artery (5) 23. stop (5) 25. relating to teeth p.18 (6) 29. ross ... p.34 (7) 30. barbaric (7) 31. professor las ... p.52 (6) 33. demise (5) 34. succumb (5) 36. fuss (3) 37. pair (5) Down 1. source of chocolate (5) 2. least common (6) 3. period (3) 5. adhere (4) 6. simple (4) 7. bowel movement p.51 (12) 9. englands ... heath p.31 (8) 10. liveliness of mind (6) 11. string instrument (5) 13. dr kristi ... p.10 (4) 15. bovine animals (4) 16. female hormone (8) 17. body tumour p.10 (6) 18. of the mouth (4) 24. tense (4) 26. gaming console (8) 27. gland (5) 28. plant-based ... p.31 (6) 32. calm (6) 35. deciduous tree (3)

Go to the link below for solutions

Click or scan QR image for references.

Recipe index

32 36

13 41 55

STARTERS | IDEAS

French Onion Soup.....................................13 Moroccan Lentil Soup.................................19 Korean Vegetable Pancakes......................23 Seed an Nut Bark........................................27 Anti Flamme Pesto......................................33 Savoury Spice Blend....................................45 Roast Chickpea.............................................54

MAINS

Brown Rice Veggie Bake.............................14 Leek and Potato Bake..................................15 Plant Based Pad Thai ..................................29 Wonder Salad................................................32 Fish Fingers with Minted Pea Mash.........36 Asian Tofu Poke Bowl..................................37 Bean Patties with Harissa...........................44 Butternut Couscous Salad..........................54 Bean Curd Skin with Mushroom...............55

SWEETS | DESSERTS

Roasted Pear & Cardamom Cream..........41 Apple or Apricot Cream..............................41 Sup Smoothies..............................................49

Tried our Recipes? Show us your creation! Mention @wholefoodliving.life and tag #wholefoodliving.life

WFPB's Food Groups

Based on the guide developed by PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) in 1991

FRUIT

3 or more servings a day

Full of vitamin C and beta carotene, fruit is also rich in fibre. You should include at least one serving of fruit per day. Fruits are full of flavour, make a welcome afternoon filler and are great as a night time desert. They're best eaten whole because your gut benefits from their soft fibre.

Serving sizes: 1 medium piece of fruit, 1/2 cup cooked fruit, 4 ounces juice.

LEGUMES

2 or more servings a day

Beans, peas and lentils are your key source for good fibre, protein, iron, calcium, zinc and B vitamins. In this group you can also include items such as chickpeas, baked and refined beans, soy milk, tempeh and vegetable protein.

Serving sizes: 1/2 cups cooked beans, 4 ounces tofu or tempeh, 8 ounces Soy Milk.

NUTS AND SEEDS

1 or more servings

Serving: 1/4 cup nuts or seeds

WHOLE GRAINS

5 or more servings a day

The wholegrain list is large. Here is a sample: barley, freekeh, whole rye, brown rice, oats, wheat, buckwheat, bulgur, quinoa, whole wheat couscous, corn, millet. Build meals around hearty grain dishes. They’re rich in essential fibre, complex carbohydrates, protein, B Vitamins and zinc. Great for breakfast.

Serving sizes: 1/2 cup hot cereal, 1/4 cup dry cereal, 1 slice bread

VEGETABLES

4 or more servings a day

Vegetables are your essential nutrient injection. Dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, collards, kale, mustard and turnip greens, chicory or bok choy are all good sources of important nutrients. They provide vitamin C, beta-carotene, riboflavin, iron, calcium, fibre and more. Extra beta-carotene comes from dark yellow and orange vegetables such as carrot, squash, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Don’t be afraid to eat generous amounts. Load up your plate!

Serving sizes: 1 cup raw vegetables, 1/2 cup cooked vegetables