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Review: Saving the World with Plants
A review of Bernhard Kegel's book, "Mit Pflanzen die Welt retten," which explores the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating climate change.
German
Germany
HealthClimate ChangeEnvironmentSustainabilityClimateConservationNature
Dumont VerlagEu
Bernhard Kegel
- How does Kegel propose to integrate nature conservation and climate protection?
- Kegel advocates for integrating nature conservation with climate protection efforts, emphasizing the multiple benefits of healthy ecosystems, including water provision, food security, and biodiversity. He criticizes the tendency to overlook the vital role of nature in climate action.
- What does Kegel identify as the most effective strategy for carbon sequestration?
- The book argues that preserving existing ecosystems, such as old-growth forests and peat bogs, is the most effective way to prevent the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere. Large-scale afforestation projects, on the other hand, can have unintended negative consequences.
- What is the main argument of Bernhard Kegel's book, "Mit Pflanzen die Welt retten?"
- Bernhard Kegel's book, "Mit Pflanzen die Welt retten," emphasizes the crucial role of nature in climate change mitigation. It highlights the carbon sequestration capabilities of various ecosystems like forests, peatlands, and oceans, while also acknowledging the limitations of nature-based solutions.
- What is the significance of peatlands in Kegel's analysis of climate change mitigation?
- Restoring degraded peatlands is highlighted as a particularly effective strategy for carbon sequestration, as peatlands store almost twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined. This involves closing ditches, removing dams, and rewetting the land, often with the involvement of local farmers.
- What are Kegel's views on technological solutions for climate change, and how do they relate to nature-based solutions?
- While acknowledging the potential of future technologies such as artificial photosynthesis, the book primarily focuses on nature-based solutions. It emphasizes that all methods of CO2 reduction, including both technological and natural approaches, are needed to combat climate change effectively.