@article{fdi:010075246,
  title = {{M}atching policy and science : rationale for the "4 per 1000-soils for food security and climate" initiative},
  author = {{S}oussana, {J}. {F}. and {L}utfalla, {S}. and {E}hrhardt, {F}. and {R}osenstock, {T}. and {L}amanna, {C}. and {H}avlik, {P}. and {R}ichards, {M}. and {W}ollenberg, {E}. and {C}hotte, {J}ean-{L}uc and {T}orquebiau, {E}. and {C}iais, {P}. and {S}mith, {P}. and {L}al, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}t the 21st session of the {U}nited {N}ations {F}ramework {C}onvention on {C}limate {C}hange ({UNFCCC}, {COP}21), a voluntary action plan, the '4 per 1000 {I}nitiative: {S}oils for {F}ood {S}ecurity and {C}limate' was proposed under the {A}genda for {A}ction. {T}he {I}nitiative underlines the role of soil organic matter ({SOM}) in addressing the three-fold challenge of food and nutritional security, adaptation to climate change and mitigation of human-induced greenhouse gases ({GHG}s) emissions. {I}t sets an ambitious aspirational target of a 4 per 1000 (i.e. 0.4%) rate of annual increase in global soil organic carbon ({SOC}) stocks, with a focus on agricultural lands where farmers would ensure the carbon stewardship of soils, like they manage day-to-day multipurpose production systems in a changing environment. {I}n this paper, the opportunities and challenges for the 4 per 1000 initiative are discussed. {W}e show that the 4 per 1000 target, calculated relative to global top soil {SOC} stocks, is consistent with literature estimates of the technical potential for {SOC} sequestration, though the achievable potential is likely to be substantially lower given socio-economic constraints. {W}e calculate that land-based negative emissions from additional {SOC} sequestration could significantly contribute to reducing the anthropogenic {CO}2 equivalent emission gap identified from {N}ationally {D}etermined {C}ontributions pledged by countries to stabilize global warming levels below 2 degrees {C} or even 1.5 degrees {C} under the {P}aris agreement on climate. {T}he 4 per 1000 target could be implemented by taking into account differentiated {SOC} stock baselines, reversing the current trend of huge soil {CO}2 losses, e.g. from agriculture encroaching peatland soils. {W}e further discuss the potential benefits of {SOC} stewardship for both degraded and healthy soils along contrasting spatial scales (field, farm, landscape and country) and temporal (year to century) horizons. {L}ast, we present some of the implications relative to non-{CO}2 {GHG}s emissions, water and nutrients use as well as co-benefits for crop yields and climate change adaptation. {W}e underline the considerable challenges associated with the non-permanence of {SOC} stocks and show how the rates of adoption and the duration of improved soil management practices could alter the global impacts of practices under the 4 per 1000 initiative. {W}e conclude that the 4 per 1000 initiative has potential to support multiple sustainable development goals ({SDG}s) of the 2030 {A}genda. {I}t can be regarded as no-regret since increasing {SOC} in agricultural soils will contribute to food security benefits that will enhance resilience to climate change. {H}owever, social, economic and environmental safeguards will be needed to ensure an equitable and sustainable implementation of the 4 per 1000 target.},
  keywords = {{S}oil organic carbon ; {C}arbon sequestration ; {C}limate change},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil and {T}illage {R}esearch},
  volume = {188},
  numero = {{SI}},
  pages = {3--15},
  ISSN = {0167-1987},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.still.2017.12.002},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075246},
}