Geography

Towards more effective nature-based climate solutions in global forests

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Terrestrial ecosystems could contribute to climate mitigation through nature-based climate solutions (NbCS), which aim to reduce ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase ecosystem carbon storage. Forests have the largest potential for NbCS, aligned with broader sustainability benefits, but—unfortunately—a broad body of literature has revealed widespread problems in forest NbCS projects and protocols that undermine the climate mitigation of forest carbon credits and hamper efforts to reach global net zero. Therefore, there is a need to bring better science and policy to improve NbCS climate mitigation outcomes going forward. Here we synthesize challenges to crediting forest NbCS and offer guidance and key next steps to make improvements in the implementation of these strategies immediately and in the near-term. We structure our Perspective around four key components of rigorous forest NbCS, illuminating key science and policy considerations and providing solutions to improve rigour. Finally, we outline a ‘contribution approach’ to support rigorous forest NbCS that is an alternative funding mechanism that disallows compensation or offsetting claims. © Springer Nature Limited 2025.

Publication Title

Nature

Publication Date

7-2025

Volume

643

Issue

8074

First Page

1214

Last Page

1222

ISSN

0028-0836

DOI

10.1038/s41586-025-09116-6

Keywords

carbon storage, compensation system, greenhouse gas, mitigation, sustainability, terrestrial ecosystem

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