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Tackling Climate Change in North America

Nature Can Help Tackle Climate Change

Natural climate solutions for North America

A man stands on a large stump and looks out at a forest.
Klamath River Fishing guide and Yurok tribal member, Pergish Carlson, stands atop a tree trunk and looks at the forests around the Klamath River in northern California. © Kevin Arnold

We cannot address climate change without nature.

Across North America, healthy landscapes and seascapes reduce carbon emissions and increase carbon storage. That is why TNC works to scale and implement natural climate solutions in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. 

Combined with cutting emissions and accelerating renewable energy, these actions to protect, better manage and restore nature offer immediate and cost-effective ways to tackle the climate crisis—while also addressing the loss of plant and animal species and supporting human health and livelihoods.

natural climate solutions (:39) Combined with cutting fossil fuels, natural climate solutions offer immediate and cost-effective ways to tackle the climate crisis—while also supporting healthy, thriving communities and ecosystems.

How natural climate solutions work

See how these solutions are tackling climate change.

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What are natural climate solutions?

Natural climate solutions include practices like improving forest management to help forest owners increase the carbon stored in their trees; reducing fertilizer use for fewer greenhouse gas emissions; and restoring coastal wetlands to sequester carbon in submerged soil.

Natural climate solutions benefit nature

Globally, natural climate solutions could deliver up to a third of the emission reductions needed by 2030 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change

  • Icon of pine trees.

    290M

    More than 290 million acres of forest land is owned by families in the U.S.

  • Icon of wheat.

    48.1 Mt

    More than 48.1 megatonnes of carbon dioxide could be mitigated annually by implementing natural climate solutions on agricultural lands in Canada.

  • Icon of people.

    94%

    More than 94% of Americans support protecting, managing and restoring forests, grasslands and wetlands so they can store more carbon and fight climate change.

How we advance natural climate solutions in North America

We help people who own or manage land implement natural climate solutions. We also advocate for government policies and funding, do scientific research and work with coalitions to expand natural climate solutions.

Aerial of a wetland.
Maumee Bay Coastal Wetland H2Ohio wetland restoration at Maumee Bay. © Ashlee Decker

How natural climate solutions are benefitting people and the planet

Natural climate solutions, such as restoring wetlands, protecting forests and increasing regenerative agriculture are delivering big wins for the climate. Here are some examples of the projects, people and communities embracing these solutions.

Can Blue Carbon Be a Climate Solution in Texas?

Why protecting and restoring wetlands can slow climate change and protect vulnerable coastlines.

Emerald Edge

The Nature Conservancy is supporting conservation across 100 million acres from Alaska, through British Columbia, and to Washington.

Chasing the Shade: Expanding Philadelphia’s Urban Tree Canopy

With a lack of trees and green spaces, South Philadelphia is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city. $12 million from the Inflation Reduction Act aims to equitably expand its urban tree canopy.

Harvesting Hope: Resurrection of the Longleaf Pine

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan devastated Dr. Salem Saloom's tree farm in Alabama. He turned to the Farm Bill to help restore the land with native and more storm-resilient longleaf pines.

Markets for Floodplain Reforestation

Flooding has always been a fact of life along the Mississippi and its tributaries. But those floods are becoming bigger, more frequent and more damaging.

Restoring Soil Health: Ryan Hough

Hough's decision to pursue no-till farming and to plant cover crops was primarily motivated by financial considerations but notes the environmental benefits are a wonderful side-effect.

Bringing the Marsh Back Home

A living shoreline project in Louisiana promises to revive Lake Pontchartrain's missing marshes, with help from the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal funding.