Extensive international assessment: global peatlands play a significant role in climate change mitigation
The Global Peatlands Assessment report published in cooperation by an international expert group under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sums up information about the state of peatlands and their significance in the global carbon cycle for decision making. It is the first comprehensive report on the state of global peatlands in nearly 15 years. Research scientists from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) participated in preparation of the summary in such roles as coordinating authors in sections on policy instruments for the use of peatlands and the state of peatlands in Europe.
Nearly half of peatlands in Europe are in a weakened ecological state
While peatlands only cover three to four per cent of the global land area, they contain almost a third of all carbon sequestered in soil. To achieve global climate goals, it is important that carbon sinks in peatlands are not released into the atmosphere. In as much as 12 per cent of global peatlands, the accumulation of peat has already stopped, and they have become emission sources. In Europe, nearly half of peatlands have been drained and are in a weakened state.
The report offers a significant benchmark for the future. It includes updated maps that highlight threats and opportunities related to the use of peatlands. The report guides countries and decision makers to promote the sustainable use of peatlands and take action to even better address peatlands in national climate strategies and their implementation.
The report emphasises that drained peatlands do not have to be part of the problem – they can rather be the solution. The sustainable use and restoration of peatlands offer a natural solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stop nature loss and mitigate climate change. At the same time, measures can support local business,” says Tuula Larmola, Senior Scientist at Luke.
It is recommended that peatland-rich countries include peatlands in climate goals
Funding for peatland protection and restoration could be provided from public sources and based on markets. Peatland-rich countries are encouraged to include peatlands in the obligations of the Paris Agreement when defining the actions each country will take to reduce their emissions.
The report recommends
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increasing sustainable climate action, including raising the water level on peatland fields, replacing peat in growing media, and reducing the use of peat in energy generation;
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initiating mid-term planning to stop reducing the state of peatlands in a controlled manner;
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creating subsidies and incentives for the sustainable use, restoration and protection of peatlands;
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increasing the amount of public and private funding to expand the sustainable use, restoration and protection of peatlands; and
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starting to monitor the state of peatlands and maintaining databases on their existence, state and use.
