Climate Change

Why the world's peatlands are key to stopping climate change

A channel, blocked with a dam, is seen at a marsh called Galoye, near the town of Cherven, Belarus October 2, 2018. The new GEF (Global Environment Facility) funded and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) implemented “Wetlands” project, which will help to restore 12,456 ha of the degraded peatland forests, and decisions on restoration/wise management of 260,000 ha of Belarusian peatland forests will be made, according to UNDP in Belarus.  REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko - RC19D1B8C4D0

Peatlands cover approximately 3.7 million square kilometres, roughly the size of than India. Image: REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

Gustaf Hugelius
Senior Lecturer, Physical Geography, Stockholm University
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Peatland covers much of the far north – and often overlaps with permafrost. Image: Hugelius et al / PNAS,
peatlands emissions climate change crisis environment renewable solar energy change transition friendly environment carbon footprint carbon emissions reduction change natural climate change global warming air pollution clean energy power renewables plastic plastics Weather extreme storm hurricane typhoon flooding flood floods danger rain wind windy rainy flash floods Agriculture pollen insects bugs bees honeybees bumblebees farming farms crops crop stable
Sampling peatland in Siberia. Image: Gustaf Hugelius
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Climate ChangeSDG 13: Climate ActionFuture of the Environment
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