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Natural Climate Solutions

The MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative’s (ESI´s) Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Program enlists MIT’s multidisciplinary community of researchers and local partners, combining MIT’s scientific and engineering capacity with community-based planning and local expertise to create a toolkit of technology-enhanced and community-driven solutions to support communities living in vulnerable ecosystems. 
Marcela Angel

Angélica Mayolo

Earth’s oceans, lands, and forests are substantial global carbon sinks. Natural climate solutions account for one third of the cost-effective carbon mitigation strategies necessary to achieve the 1.5 and 2°C global warming targets. Nonetheless, key carbon sinks such as tropical forests are under severe stress and, in some cases, approaching critical tipping points.

Reducing tropical deforestation is an imperative element of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in countries with significant forested areas — such as Colombia, Brazil, Indonesia, and others. In these countries, deforestation continues to be the primary source of GHG emissions. Moreover, protecting carbon-rich ecosystems also contributes to conserving biodiversity and natural watersheds, and secures a future for indigenous and Afro-descendant communities who live and depend on the forest.

Reducing tropical deforestation is an imperative element of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in countries with significant forested areas — such as Colombia, Brazil, Indonesia, and others. In these countries, deforestation continues to be the primary source of GHG emissions. Moreover, protecting carbon-rich ecosystems also contributes to conserving biodiversity and natural watersheds, and secures a future for indigenous and Afro-descendant communities who live and depend on the forest.

Reducing tropical deforestation is an imperative element of

The NCS Program efforts are focused towards four main goals:

  1. Leverage technology development and community-based planning to support local communities in protecting natural carbon sinks and biodiversity.
  2. Leverage technology development and community-based planning to support local communities in protecting natural carbon sinks and biodiversity.
  3. Leverage technology development and community-based planning to support local communities in protecting natural carbon sinks and biodiversity.
  4. Leverage technology development and community-based planning to support local communities in protecting natural carbon sinks and biodiversity.

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