The vegetation covering around a third of the world’s surface is vital to maintaining the planet's natural balance. It supports intricate wildlife systems and helps maintain a healthy atmosphere, by taking in carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing oxygen.

Yet it is under threat from human activities, such as clearing woodland for farming and illegal logging, as well as climate change.

What are nature-based solutions?

Nature-based solutions, or natural climate solutions, are projects which protect, transform or restore land. In this way, nature absorbs more CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. These projects can lead to the marketing, trading and sale of carbon credits.

The protection and restoration of natural ecosystems could play an important role in limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, while bringing additional environmental and social benefits, according to studies cited by the International Panel on Climate Change.

They also have further benefits such as offering alternative sources of income to local communities, improving soil productivity, cleaning air and water, and maintaining biodiversity.

What is a carbon credit?

A credit represents the avoidance or removal of greenhouse gases equivalent to 1 tonne of CO2.

Why is Shell investing in nature?

We are working to cut the emissions from our own operations, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy that our customers use. There is no single solution.

Our approach includes improving the energy efficiency of our operations; selling more, cleaner-burning natural gas; generating electricity from solar and wind; and providing lower-carbon fuels such as biofuels and hydrogen, as well as more electric-vehicle charging points. We are also supporting nature-based solutions.

Nature-based solutions can make a big contribution to our ambition to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, or sooner. They have a role to play in reducing the carbon intensity of the energy products we sell, as well as addressing our customers’ emissions footprint when they use energy products bought from Shell.

 

 

Find out more about nature-based solutions

“The world needs solutions to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The world also needs solutions to meet the ever-increasing demand for energy. What can Shell do to support carbon dioxide emissions reduction goal?”

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