A coalition of climate scientists is urging global regulators to reconsider restrictive policies that exclude natural climate solutions (NCS) from climate mitigation frameworks, warning that such exclusions could delay urgently needed emissions reductions.
In a letter addressed to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and the United Nations’ Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, the group challenges the growing trend of favoring engineered carbon removals over nature-based interventions, which they argue are unfairly dismissed for lacking long-term permanence.
NCS, such as reforestation, peatland restoration, and soil carbon management, account for roughly 28% of the world’s high-confidence, cost-effective mitigation potential, according to the 2023 climate change report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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Yet many recent proposals de-emphasize NCS, citing concerns about the risk of carbon “reversals” such as forest fires.
These rigid interpretations of permanence are counterproductive, the authors state, emphasizing that managing reversal risk is feasible and already common in other sectors, from flood insurance to health policy.
The scientists argue that excluding NCS from crediting frameworks, particularly through strict “like-for-like” offset rules, removes a critical short-term mitigation tool.
Temporary carbon removals can reduce peak warming and buy time for longer-term engineered solutions to scale.
Furthermore, NCS are scalable, low-cost, and deliver valuable co-benefits like biodiversity and water quality.
With engineered carbon removal technologies still constrained by infrastructure and cost, the scientists call for a pragmatic portfolio approach.
The letter recommends integrating NCS into emerging standards on residual emissions, particularly in beyond value chain mitigation (BVCM) and Scope 3 reduction targets.
Ultimately, the authors warn that failing to act now risks sidelining a vital part of the global climate strategy.
Read more: SBTi Opens Door To Carbon Removal, Releases Net-Zero Standard For Public Consultation
