Australia’s soil to become net carbon emitter and threat to climate goals, report says

A study has found median annual emissions from Australian soils will range from 30 to 100 megatons of C02 over the next 80 years – and become a threat to net zero. Photograph: Totajla/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Intensifying extreme heat and drought due to the climate crisis will make Australia’s soil a net emitter of carbon dioxide, impeding the country from reaching its climate goals, new analysis has found.

Soil carbon sequestration has been identified as a way to help Australia meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 43% by 2030 and net zero by 2050.