3.2 Bio-diversity - friendly climate solutions: some facts

a) According to an estimate, it is necessary to reduce emissions by 400 billion tonnes of carbon by 2050 and 1,000 billion tonnes of carbon by 2100, to keep the atmospheric CO2 levels from exceeding double their historical level. Even at these levels, impacts to biodiversity may be severe. Of the necessary emissions reductions, about 100 billion tonnes of carbon could be achieved through forests and other land based carbon offsets such as restoration of fragmented habitats, reduced impact logging, replacing monoculture farming with agro-forestry, and protection of biodiversity-rich habitat [Source: IPCC 2001; WRI 1999]

b) It is critical that while implementing solutions for climate change we do not unwittingly worsen biodiversity. Hydro-electricity and biomass fuels can be climate friendly, but they may have impacts on biodiversity.