Global Land Use for Carbon Neutrality

A new analysis reveals that if the world implemented existing plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, it would require an area of land larger than the United States. This analysis examined the plans from approximately 140 countries and calculated that fulfilling these plans would necessitate around 990 million hectares of land. This amount of land use poses significant concerns, as it could lead to decreased biodiversity and challenges in food production. The findings emphasize the need for coordinated global efforts to transition to cleaner energy without sacrificing vital agricultural land.