Editorial: Integrating ecosystems and climate demands a broad approach

The earth’s climate system and the global carbon cycle are coupled with major ecosystems such as forests and oceans, and to ecological processes within these ecosystems.

Not surprisingly, calls to examine more closely the links between different ecosystems and climate change are common. Typically, what is called for is a deeper consideration of policies regarding these ecosystems in climate-related governance – not least concerning the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

In this issue of Acid News, for instance, we highlight developments in the integration of oceans and climate, as well as the need for some further improvements in this integration process. Similarly, AirClim has called for a better recognition of the role of northern forests in climate policy – especially within the UNFCCC [1].

More broadly, in the case of large, international climate policy platforms, there is some risk that initiatives concerning a certain ecosystem are somehow interpreted as competing with other initiatives (such as those concerning a different ecosystem) or ongoing work, although they most certainly are not intended to do that.

The point of these efforts is simply and first of all to better recognise the role of these ecosystems in climate work in the first place. Secondly, calls for improved integration can also be related to a need to share global responsibilities. The latter point is illustrated by a quote [1] that concerns northern forests in relation to the (also) vitally important work in tropical forests: “Until now, the forest debate under the UNFCCC has focused largely on the responsibility of developing countries to protect their forests, with developed countries mostly promising to provide funding while underachieving on efforts to tackle forest destruction at home.”

The risk of misunderstandings regarding the motives behind different initiatives is present even in discussions on processes within ecosystems. Concerning oceans, AirClim has, for instance, highlighted the need for better governance regarding ocean acidification [2], which is caused by the greenhouse gas CO₂, and has been called “the equally evil twin of climate change”. Today, ocean acidification is mentioned much more often in climate talks than it was just a few years. Nevertheless, over the years it was not uncommon for initiatives regarding ocean acidification to be met with some scepticism (personal observation), probably related to the fact that the oceans already have enough climate-related problems without including ocean acidification. And possibly also reflecting an anxiety that highlighting “new” problems could distract attention from other climate-related problems. Both reasons are of course more than understandable given the already tremendous advocacy work on threats that have perhaps so far been more well-known than ocean acidification.

The burdensome truth is, however, that climate policies need to consider a number of ecosystem processes that occur in tandem. This applies to aspects where different ecosystems have different but equally vital roles globally, and to processes and climate-related effects within these ecosystems.

Desperate times call for extensive measures.

Marko Reinikainen
[1] Northern forests and climate change. Article on AirClim’s landing page for the Northern Forests project. https://www.airclim.org/northern-forests-and-climate-change
[2] Ocean acidification is poorly governed. Acid News No. 4, 2020. https://www.airclim.org/acidnews/ocean-acidification-poorly-governed