Mitigation Strategies

One of the significant processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans. Phytoplankton, through photosynthesis, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic carbon, which can then be stored in the ocean or passed through the marine food web. Carbon dioxide does not typically escape into the outer stratosphere as a mechanism to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere. While trapping of air in the polar ice caps may occur, it is not a significant process for reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

One carbon credit represents the right to emit one ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas. These credits can be traded in the carbon market as part of initiatives to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The concept of carbon credits was indeed ratified in conjunction with the Kyoto Protocol, so option A is correct. The goal of the carbon credit system is indeed to limit the increase of carbon dioxide emission, making option C correct. Carbon credits are indeed awarded to countries or groups that have reduced greenhouse gases below their emission quota, so option D is also correct. However, option B is not correct. The price of carbon credits is not fixed by the United Nations Environment Programme. Instead, the price of carbon credits is determined by the market, based on supply and demand.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change. Contour bunding is a method of farming that is practiced on the slopes of hills. It helps in reducing soil erosion and increasing the organic matter content in the soil. This in turn helps in carbon sequestration. Relay cropping is a method where a second crop is sown before the first crop is harvested. While it helps in maintaining soil cover and can contribute to carbon sequestration, it is not as direct a method as contour bunding or zero tillage. Zero tillage is a way of growing crops from year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage. It increases the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil and increases organic matter retention and cycling of nutrients in the soil. This helps in carbon sequestration. Therefore, all three practices help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil.

**Statement 1 is correct:** The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (activities commonly referred to as REDD). **Statement 2 is incorrect:** The FCPF focuses on assisting developing countries with REDD initiatives, not funding individual scientific research. **Statement 3 is correct:** To assist countries in their REDD efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance in building their capacity to benefit from possible future systems of positive incentives for REDD.

All three options (1, 2, and 3) can be potential sites for carbon sequestration **Abandoned and uneconomic coal seams:** These underground coal mines already have existing rock formations suitable for storing carbon dioxide. Since they are no longer operational, they can be repurposed for CO2 storage, potentially with the added benefit of enhancing methane capture from abandoned mines. **Depleted oil and gas reservoirs:** Once oil and gas reserves are depleted, they still have porous rock structures that can trap injected carbon dioxide. Repurposing these reservoirs for carbon storage leverages existing infrastructure and reduces the need for drilling new wells. **Subterranean deep saline formations:** Deep saline formations are layers of rock saturated with briny water, far below freshwater resources. Their geological properties allow for the storage of large volumes of carbon dioxide with minimal risk of leakage or contamination of freshwater sources.

* Carbon fertilization is the increased rate of photosynthesis in plants due to the higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. * During Photosynthesis plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, along with water and sunlight, to produce sugars (glucose) that provide energy for growth. This process releases oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. * The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is currently at its highest level in millions of years, primarily due to human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. * Many plants respond to higher CO₂ levels with an increased rate of photosynthesis, enabling them to produce more sugars, which can lead to faster growth and higher biomass production.

"Blue Carbon" designates carbon that is fixed via coastal ocean ecosystems , rather than traditional land ecosystems, like forests . Although the ocean's vegetated habitats cover less than 0.5% of the seabed, they are responsible for more than 50%, and potentially up to 70%, of all carbon storage in ocean sediments.

All three activities mentioned are indeed methods often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration. * Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively is known as enhanced weathering. The basalt reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and forms stable carbonates, effectively storing the carbon dioxide and preventing it from contributing to global warming. * Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime can help absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The increased alkalinity enhances the ocean's capacity to act as a carbon sink. * Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters is a direct method of carbon capture and sequestration where carbon dioxide is captured at its source and then stored in a way that prevents it from being released into the atmosphere.

**Congo Basin Peatlands:** The Congo Basin in Central Africa is home to the world's largest tropical peatland complex. This vast peatland stores an immense amount of carbon, estimated to be equivalent to about three years of global fossil fuel emissions. **Importance of Peatlands:** Peatlands are a critical carbon sink. They store more carbon than all the world's forests combined. When peatlands are drained or degraded, this stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Cong and Indonesia are parties to the **Brazzaville Declaration**, aimed at protecting the Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin, the world’s largest tropical peatlands, from unregulated land use and preventing its drainage and degradation.  _Other Options:_ * **Amazon Basin:** While the Amazon is known for its **vast rainforests**, it is not the primary location of the world's largest tropical peatland. * **Kikori Basin:** The Kikori Basin is located in **Papua New Guinea** and contains significant peatlands, but not the largest tropical peatland complex. * **Rio de la Plata Basin:** This basin in **South America** is primarily known for its grasslands and is not associated with major peatland areas.

✅ **A. The European Union:** The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an EU legislative initiative adopted in 2024. It sets binding targets to restore ecosystems, fight climate change, and protect biodiversity across EU member states. ❌ **B. The World Bank:** An international financial institution providing loans and grants; it does **not** enact laws like the NRL. ❌ **C. OECD:** An organization promoting economic cooperation and policy coordination; it **does not** enact binding environmental laws such as the NRL. ❌ **D. FAO:** A UN agency focused on hunger and agriculture; it **does not** enact regional laws like the NRL.

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a technology that removes CO₂ directly from the air for storage or use in various industries. ✅ **Statement I is correct:** * DAC captures CO₂ for carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gases. ✅ **Statement II is correct:** * Captured CO₂ can be used to make plastics and in food processing. ✅ **Statement III is correct:** * DAC provides carbon to make synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels by combining with hydrogen. So, the correct answer is: **C**