Beyond energy transition – Natural carbon cycle regulates Earth’s climate

Which energy transition and how? Because big plants, and PV plants over fertile land pose threats to local population and to soil preservation and biodiversity, and an energy transition poses consequences for the economy, the population and workers that need governance of possible conflict. Italy hase many examples (carbon powerplants, nuclear energy yes/no, the case of Sardinia population opposing big windmill projects, the “fiscal bonus” for building energy efficiency…)

The role of the natural carbon cycle, soil, ecosystems and biodiversity preservation to mitigate climate change. We need to complement our knowledge with Earth System Science and in particular the study of the feedbacks that ocean and land provide to the carbon cycle. This is fundamental for understanding that protection of land functions is necessary to make sure that the soil-vegetation system continues to absorb CO2 – besides providing arable land and other “ecosystem services” like prevention of floods, temperature mitigation, evapotranspiration, cultural services (landscape) and conservation of biodiversity. Land use is a fundamental component of the climate mitigation and there are conflicts on land use. The biggest threat is given by intensive agriculture for growing livestock feed (soya, corn), which occupies more than 70% of cultivated land in Europe and it is the major cause of Amazon deforestation. The consumption of meat, and beef in particular, is always neglected in the climate discourse. if we could diminish the land use for feeding animals we could re-naturalise a large portion of land.

thanks for your comments to my hints of discussion!