Thread by @SteveJCornelius

Takeaways from the #IPCC Special Report on #ClimateChange & Land (#SRCCL). A thread.

1) We use a lot of land (much unsustainably)

Humans directly affect ~72% of "global ice-free land surface" & all is impacted by climate change (e.g. through warming & more intense extremes

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2) A two-way interaction

Our use of land drives #ClimateChange ("agriculture, forestry and other land use" are ~23% of global man-made GHG emissions) & climate change adds stresses so worsens existing risks (e.g. biodiversity & degradation from extremes events)

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3) As well as being an emission source, land is a sink

Photosynthesis draws down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and fixes it in plants (and soils). Overall the land is a net sink of ~29% of total human-induced CO2 emissions.

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4) The global food system contributes ~30% of human-induced GHG emissions

This is from land-use change (e.g. deforestation / natural ecosystem conversion), farming (e.g. fertiliser, ruminants), getting it to your plate (e.g. transport + refrigeration)

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5) A lot of food emissions are unnecessary

25-30% of total food produced is not eaten (yet 821m are undernourished) & this contributes 8-10% of man-made GHG emissions. Inefficiencies in our consumption & food distribution means pressure to produce more food.

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6) There is a triple challenge

We need to limit #ClimateChange, restore nature and ensure food security (an important part of sustainable development). Because the land is finite and can be used for different purposes, competition can arise...

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7) Sustainable land management is needed...

Win-win-wins - actions that are good for #ClimateChange adaptation and mitigation can also protect nature and improve food security - BUT, if done at the wrong scale or in the wrong way will see negative trade-offs.

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8) ...and we need to fix the food system

Farm better and improve consumption patterns (healthy lower-GHG emissions diets / cut food loss and waste).

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Its important that the #IPCC report on #ClimateChange & land reflects the underlying science - governments must now respond to the findings & raise ambition of climate pledges:

We need to transform the way we use land & cut fossil fuels to secure a climate-safe future
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