Conference of The Parties: the place of soil and the survival of earth

 

A brief: Glasgow is waiting

By Sunday, 31st October 2021, the old city of Glasgow will welcome the world for an all important conference (which is also a turn around conference for her)— the COP26 or rather, Conference of The Parties. The COP26 has been on the lips of everyone, what does it mean, what is it all about and of what essence is it? 

After the Paris Agreement in 2015, COP26 is the biggest and promising climate summit to come. For the world and all living things, this is coming at a critical point, as leaders of various countries and businesses come together to discuss and present possible ways, solutions and policies towards a net zero carbon economy.

Climate change, the climate changer

The average weather condition in a location over a long period of time is referred to as climate. Climate change is the result of a shift in the average conditions.

Humans' use of oil, gas, and coal for their houses, factories, and transportation is causing faster climate change. When fuel from fossils are burned, greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2). 

The heat from the sun is then trapped by these gases, causing the planet's temperature to rise. From the early 40's, 1000 tonnes of carbon is emitted into the atmosphere every year, and there are no signs of reduction. 

Climate change affects every part of the world and if not vehemently monitored and checked, all living things will suffer the consequences of life threatening weather condition. The world's temperature is getting high daily, leaving the amount of emitted CO2 in the atmosphere rising above 45% which is warmer at 1.2C and could exceed 3.9C by 2030.

The dark sides and more

Climate change has no doubt caused a lot of damages at a high intensity putting lives, businesses, economies etc at risk;

Image source: SCIED

1. Drought in some regions, especially Africa is causing arable farm lands painfully turning to dry lands and thereby reducing the rate of food production which has increased hunger and led to food insecurity. 

2. In other regions the reverse is the case, excessive rainfall is uncontrollably alarming. This has lead to flood destroying properties worth billions (this was the case in London recently) and erosion.

3. The extinction of some animal species is becoming obvious. For instance, as the weather gets warm in areas with Polar bears, survival is far from reach as the ice they rely on melts away.

4. Due to dry and hot weather, wildfires and uncontrollable bush burning is on the increase and as it continues, the climate shift will persist. Elephants may get thirsty to death, due to lack of water (they normally need 150-250 liters daily)

5. In Siberia, reports has it that as ice melts, there is a tendency that gases trapped in it for a long time will be emitted into the atmosphere. 

6. Aquatic animals and plants are at risk of dying due to acid rain forming due to the oxidation of gases containing nitrogen and sulfur dissolving in the atmosphere's water vapor with its pH below 4.5.

These catastrophic tendencies of the climate shift is not location specific, the planet earth and the whole world is into it— from Europe, Africa, Middle East, Pacific Region to Australia.

What can be done? 

The place of soil and how it can help

As leaders, professionals etc gather to deliberate over the earth's safety, will the soil be mentioned? Or perhaps, its role? Recently, Natallie Bennett, member of the House of Lords pushed for the soil amendment bill which she presented during the House of Lords Environmental Bill hearing despite pressure not to present.

The soil holds three times more carbon than the atmosphere, making it a natural sink for atmospheric carbon sequestration. The Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nation also reports that the top 30cm of the soil contains and can hold more carbon than the entire atmosphere.

This surpassed the ability of oceans and forest in storing carbon, making the soil the largest natural carbon sequestration sink. This is not just for all soils, but for all healthy soils—a critical factor to the soil's ability to sequester carbon (this calls for more action on soil health and management).

Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. They convert carbon into leaves, stems, seeds, and roots using water and sunlight. Plants return some carbon dioxide to the environment while also exuding some carbon as a sweet substance from their roots as they respire. 

This secretion nourishes the underground microbes (fungus, protozoa, nematodes etc). When plants die, soil bacteria break down their carbon molecules and utilise them for metabolism and growth, while also respiring some of the carbon back into the atmosphere.

The above is a glimpse of the carbon cycle mechanism. Since maintaining healthy soils is a key to facilitate carbon sequestration via the carbon cycle, the processes of having healthy soils are not to be overlooked:

The use of organic fertilizer and practicing zero or minimum tillage should be prioritized as this will in turn prevent the destruction of soil organic matter. Soil carbon is not exposed to oxygen when tillage is minimal, and soil aggregates remain intact, holding its carbon.

Crop rotation and use of cover crops should be encouraged, tree planting and zero deforestation. Cattle grazing also should be rotational, leaving new grasses to grow while cattles are moved to a new grazing location.

Further research shows that the soil can store carbon by 40% . However, soil carbon storage is not a magical panacea for climate change. The ongoing and continuos hullabaloo over its effectiveness reflects the soil system's complexity and the amount of research that's still expected to be carried out.

What is expected from the COP26?

                                                                       Glasgow City

The COP26 meeting will bring countries together again from October 31st-12th November, to speed up momentum toward the Paris Agreement and the UN Statistical Hypothesis on Climate Change's aims.

As this conference holds, what do we expect? Another mere talk from powers holders? A Natallie Bennett's kind of presentation? Possible solutions to safe our planet earth? New and better policies? The expectation is nothing but a beautiful togetherness to safe our earth. 

We can choose a fresh ending for the story of food shortage, poverty, recessed economies, as a people. To accomplish this, a new leadership, policies and collaborative model is to be put in place, one that requires decisive action. We can write and rewrite a new chapter of earth if we take bold steps now and commit to a more sustainable future for everyone and every living thing.