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A climate change solution that's right under our feet

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Earth School

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There's two times more carbon in the Earth's soil than in all of its vegetation and the atmosphere — combined. Biogeochemist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe dives into the science of soil and shares how we could use its awesome carbon-trapping power to offset climate change.

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Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is like farming but better. It's all about using smart techniques that help the environment while also making sure we can grow enough food for everyone. CSA has three main things: it focuses on making sure we can grow more food and make more money, deal with climate changes, and don't harm the environment too much. To do this, farmers use many techniques, like taking care of the soil, planting trees, and being careful with water. This way, we can grow food and help the earth simultaneously.

If you want to look at what climate-smart agricultural looks like in action, check out this short video about farmers in Kenya.

A different but related approach to restoring soil is regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is a way of farming that grows food and tries to make the land better over time. It uses natural methods to improve soil health, protect water resources, and support biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture practices include planting cover crops, reducing tillage, using compost instead of synthetic fertilizers, and rotating crops. By doing this, farmers can improve the soil's health, which means better yields and less need for chemicals. Regenerative agriculture also helps the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration in the soil. Overall, regenerative agriculture and permaculture is a win-win for farmers and the environment!

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About Earth School

We can save the world. Speed and Scale shows us how to unlock a cleaner, healthier and safer future by laying out a roadmap that will get us to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. How’s it going to work? We need to electrify transportation, decarbonize the grid, fix food, protect nature, clean up industry and remove carbon. To learn how we’re going to do all that - and to learn how you can take action now - explore this page.

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  • Video created by TED
  • Lesson Plan created by TED Ed

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