Organization: World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Summary: The relationship between land use and climate change is highlighted in corporate case studies included in a new report, entitled Tackling climate change on the ground released today by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Land-use activities are a major source and sink of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Curbing deforestation and applying sustainable land-use management practices can reduce GHG emissions, while planting trees and managing forests can help remove GHGs (mainly CO2) from the atmosphere by sequestering them in plants and vegetation.

Examples of cases in the report include: developing new crop varieties that have less environmental impacts and can adapt to climate change, or products that help reduce emissions; using techniques like direct seeding and drip irrigation to reduce water use in dry regions, or keeping soils healthy so they store more carbon; and developing models and tools to find practical ways to reduce impact and prepare for the future.

The various cases demonstrate that there is no single, globally applicable sustainable management solution for land use. Business is only part of the solution and must work with governments, civil society and others to develop a range of land-use approaches that tackle climate change.

Date Released: December 9, 2009

Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, December 9, 2009 Press Update

More Information: To download report go to: http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/EBCdFOJntcCbpHn8h6N3/LandUse_Final.pdf

Contact:

• James Griffiths, Managing Director, Ecosystems, Water and Forestry, WBCSD
  E-mail: Griffiths@wbcsd.org, Mobile : +41 (0) 79 291 62 40
• Matthew Bateson, Managing Director, Energy & Climate, WBCSD
  E-mail: Bateson@wbcsd.org, Mobile: +41 (0) 78 935 30 70
• Margaret Flaherty, Chief of Staff and Senior Managing Director, WBCSD
  E-mail: Flaherty@wbcsd.org, Tel : +41 (0) 22 839 31 46

Prepared by: This message was distributed by Arielle Brown, who may be reached at e-mail: abrown@eetnews.com