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Agriculture contributes to global climate change by producing 20–25% of greenhouse gases (GHGs). CO 2 is released from deforestation and land conversion, methane from rice paddy fields, and nitrous oxides from overfertilization. An increasing world population requires a change in the agro food systems, including a reduction in chemical fertilizers and pesticides as well as the production and access to food. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have created a global climate crisis which requires immediate interventions to mitigate the negative effects on all aspects of life on this planet. As current agriculture and land use contributes up to 25% of total GHG emissions, plant scientists take center stage in finding possible solutions for a transition to sustainable agriculture and land use. In this article, the PlantACT! (Plants for climate ACTion!) initiative of plant scientists lays out a road map of how and in which areas plant scientists can contribute to finding immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions, and what changes are necessary to implement these solutions at the personal, institutional, and funding levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating global climate challenges, effective carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture techniques remain at the forefront of mitigating anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This comprehensive review elucidates the latest advancements in CO₂ capture, emphasizing two predominant methodologies: absorption and adsorption. We delve into the mechanisms underlying each process, highlighting the novel materials and technologies that have emerged over recent years. For absorption, the focus is placed on the material design strategy, and identifying new materials in the class of amines, ionic liquids (ILs) and nanofluids for enhanced CO 2 capture capacities and reduced energy requirements. In the realm of adsorption, the synthesis of innovative adsorbents, such as metal organic framework (MOF), organic polymers, inorganic adsorbents, silicon-based adsorbents, and biochar and byproducts from biomass with superior selectivity and stability, is explored. Additionally, the review addresses the challenges associated with each method, offering insights into potential avenues for further research. By providing a holistic overview of the current landscape of CO₂ capture, this article serves as a pivotal resource for researchers and industry professionals aiming to advance sustainable solutions to combat climate change. [Display omitted] • Absorption and adsorption materials are at the forefront of CO 2 capture technologies. • Ionic-liquids and nanofluids can be comparable to amines with improvements in scalability and stability. • Biomass byproducts as adsorbents offers a sustainable solution to CO 2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommended more stringent climate mitigation strategies compared to the updated nationally determined contributions (NDC) presented by nations at COP27 to keep global warming temperatures below 2 °C. Given the unique geographical, political, and socioeconomic factors in different regions, it is imperative to evaluate diverse mitigation scenarios required to achieve global climate objectives. This study focuses on the Latin America and Caribbean region due to its vulnerability to global climate adversities and deteriorating climate conditions, notwithstanding its minor contribution to global emissions. Despite facing distinct climate changes, Latin America remains significantly understudied in the broader context of global climate research. The deployment of negative emission technology (NET) is crucial for achieving the end-of-century global climate goal of limiting global mean temperature to 1.5 °C and realizing regional net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets. Most countries in Latin America have established such targets for 2050. Among various NETs, Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) has recently gained research interests. This study examines the strategic implementation of NETs across the five socio-economic pathways (SSPs) to provide a comprehensive understanding of the uncertainties in regional mitigation actions and impacts on the intricate climate-energy-land-food-water nexus. In the scenario where emissions decrease by 56 % by 2030 compared to 2020 levels (NDC-56 %) on a net-zero trajectory, energy consumption under DACCS deployment is 13.1–36.2 % higher than without DACCS (between 2040 and 2100, across all SSPs). The energy demands of DACCS, especially in the aggressive NDC-56 % scenario place significant strain on energy resources, which is offset by fossil fuels. Under a globally co-ordinated climate policy and co-deployment of DACCS and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), the NDC-56 % scenario restricts global warming temperatures to 1.81–1.96 °C by 2100. • IAM analysis is used in assessing scenarios of net-zero goal of Latin America. • The deployment of DACCS under aggressive decarbonization is analysed. • The deployment of DACCS reduces the demand on BECCS requirements. • DACCS deployment will reach 88 MtCO 2 /year in the NDC-SSP1 scenario by 2100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policymakers and businesses in Southeast Asia are increasingly interested in using carbon markets to encourage adoption of regenerative agriculture practices by farmers. These practices are thought to mitigate climate change by reducing soil carbon loss and enhancing soil carbon sequestration. However, there is uncertainty in the ability of regenerative agriculture practices to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of croplands. We reviewed 92 empirical studies that investigated the effects of 17 regenerative farming practices across 11 broad categories of crops on SOC stock or content in Southeast Asia. Our synthesis found supporting evidence for the use of organic amendments like biochar, compost, and manure, as well as cover cropping, crop rotation, and conservation tillage to increase SOC. However, studies for practices like addition of compost and manure reported increases in greenhouse gas emissions like methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O), demonstrating that increases in SOC may be offset by increases in greenhouse gas emissions. Only a few studies measured both the changes in SOC stocks and greenhouse gas emissions and none of the studies completed full greenhouse gas inventories. Estimating the net impact of SOC gains and increase of greenhouse gas emissions will be necessary to understand the overall effect of practices like compost, manure and crop residue incorporation on net atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. If these practices are implemented for soil carbon projects, practitioners should anticipate increases in greenhouse gas emissions from soils and implement additional practices, such as alternate wetting and drying, to optimize the climate change mitigation effects of regenerative agriculture. We encourage future research on practices, such as agroforestry and changes in crop residue management, where there are few studies and little variation in experimental design and environmental conditions. Given the interest in scaling up regenerative agriculture through voluntary carbon markets to boost SOC stocks in croplands, policymakers and businesses can support research in this area by making field-collected data from their projects accessible to researchers to further the study of the impact of these practices across different abiotic conditions and soil managements. This data sharing would alleviate the paucity and improve the quality of empirical data on regenerative agricultural practices in Southeast Asian croplands, facilitate practice-specific meta-analyses, and help to optimize climate change mitigation effects of regenerative agriculture. • Regenerative agriculture practices can increase soil carbon in Southeast Asia. • These practices can also increase cropland greenhouse gas emissions like methane. • More empirical data is needed to quantify the practices' effects on soil carbon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar has received increasing attention in agricultural and environmental fields as an integrated solution to agricultural waste recycling, soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. However, obtaining the environmental benefits of biochar is limited by an inadequate number of soil applications. Currently, the willingness to use biochar in soil management is relatively low, which results from the insufficient understanding and promotion of the roles of biochar in soil management and climate change mitigation. This review article presents biochar applications based on carbon-neutral strategies in agricultural soil systems. The primary roles of biochar in soil improvement and remediation are discussed and the main soil application methods are introduced. The focus of this article is on biochar-based soil management strategies for contributing to carbon neutrality. Carbon sequestration using biochar is an application-dependent strategy, as the key to obtaining this ecological benefit is to store biochar products in soil via effective agricultural management. This article offers insights into biochar-based soil management strategies and their contribution to carbon neutrality in agricultural soil systems, with recommendations for appropriate government involvement in promoting biochar-based soil management and for incorporating biochar into the carbon trading market. • The non-CO 2 GHGs account for the majority of carbon emission via agricultural soil. • Incorporating biochar into the global carbon trading market is recommended. • Using biochar to help achieve carbon neutrality is an application-dependent strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Agriculture/climate relationship is one of the most important contemporary problems. • Agriculture is a significant source of GHG emissions and carbon sequestration. • Agriculture must minimize greenhouse gas emissions without reducing yields. • Integrating trees with agricultural landscapes is strategy in climate change mitigation. Agronomy has significant impacts on climate stability due to the emission of large amounts of greenhouse gases and C sequestration in soil and plants and can influence on reducing the negative impact of agronomy on climate does not need to result in a reduction in yield. Nevertheless, satisfying both goals require the implementation of new methods. The present assessment was based on over 190 scientific publications. Forecasts from the beginning of the 21st century showed that the increase in temperature and CO 2 concentration would improve the productivity of crops by extending the growing season and allow for the cultivation of new species. However, this beneficial effect may be limited by the increasing intensity of the extreme weather phenomena such as: rainstorm, droughts, early frosts, storms etc. Here, we review more recent studies which indicate, however, that this beneficial effect of climate change will not be permanent and, consequently, will significantly reduce crop yields. Climate change is forcing the agronomy sector to implement adaptive methods for minimizing possible crop losses consisting, inter alia, (i) using crop species/varieties that are less sensitive; (ii) optimizing water management; (III) improving pest, disease and weed control efficiency. The pressure on the agriculture sector to increase food production due to the increase in the human population and the present hunger in specific regions run counter to the need to reduce the adverse climate impacts of agriculture. The current state of knowledge indicates that despite the implementation of new technologies, agricultural measures will not be able to significantly reduce climate change. Indeed, these approaches will not replace the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors. However, without the participation of agronomy in reducing GHG emissions by increasing carbon sequestration, the goals of the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris will not be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Soil C sequestration in cropland could play an important role in mitigating the rapidly increasing CO2 emissions in China. Many efforts had been dedicated to estimating the potential for C sequestration in croplands. Potential increases in SOC in China''s croplands had been recently evaluated using inventory-up-scaling simulation and crop-soil C process-based modeling. In this study, data of SOC change at monitoring sites from croplands across mainland China were collected from publications available from 1985 to 2006 to perform a statistical analysis. The data set comprises 1081 observations (404 from rice paddies, RPs and 677 from dry croplands, DCs). Frequency analysis indicates that over 70% of observations show an increase in SOC, which is higher among RPs than DCs. To quantify SOC dynamics, a Relative Annual Change Index in gkg−1 year−1 (RAC, gkg−1 year−1) is defined and calculated using the initial and final SOC values for the duration of monitored observations. RAC values ranged from −0.806 to 0.963gkg−1 year−1 for DCs and from −0.597 to 0.959gkg−1 year−1 for RPs, respectively. From this data, the average is estimated to be 0.056±0.200gkg−1 year−1 for DCs, and 0.110±0.244gkg−1 year−1 for RPs, with an overall estimate for China''s croplands, with RPs and DCs combined, of 0.076±0.219gkg−1 year−1. A mean increase in topsoil C (0–20cm) stock of China''s croplands was estimated to be 25.5TgCyear−1 (8TgCyear−1 in RPs and 17.5TgCyear−1 in DCs) between 1985 and 2006, with a total topsoil C stock increase of 0.64 Pg C over the whole period. The annual stock increase may offset ∼20%, on average, of the total CO2 emissions of China for 1994. This study suggests an important role of China''s croplands, especially rice paddies, for C sequestration to mitigate climate change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Assessing the contribution of terrestrial carbon sequestration to climate change mitigation requires integration across scientific and disciplinary boundaries. A comprehensive analysis incorporating ecologic, geographic and economic data was used to develop terrestrial carbon sequestration estimates for agricultural soil carbon, reforestation and pasture management. These estimates were applied in the MiniCAM integrated assessment model to evaluate mitigation strategies within policy and technology scenarios aimed at achieving atmospheric greenhouse gas stabilization by 2100. Terrestrial sequestration reaches a peak rate of 0.5–0.7GtCyr−1 in mid-century with contributions from agricultural soils (0.21GtCyr−1), reforestation (0.31GtCyr−1) and pasture (0.15GtCyr−1). Sequestration rates vary over time and with different technology and policy scenarios. The combined contribution of terrestrial sequestration over the next century ranges from 23 to 41GtC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There has been a careless use of terminology like “climate change mitigation” and “mitigate global warming” in scientific papers on no-tillage management in agriculture. This is because it has yet to be shown unequivocally that no-tillage can lead to carbon (C) sequestration let alone climate change mitigation. I briefly summarize evidence that shows that the claims of climate change mitigation through no-tillage agriculture are highly overstated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]