Multidimensional Interdependencies exemplified by Peatland Rewetting

This discussion paper highlights the critical role of peatland rewetting as a vital tool for both emission reduction and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in the face of increasingly challenging climate goals. It emphasizes that achieving the Paris Agreement’s targets requires urgent and drastic action, including the large-scale implementation of CDR technologies alongside emission reductions. While afforestation is currently the most common ecosystem-based CDR method, peatland restoration offers more than twice the CO2 reduction potential. The paper discusses the importance of international cooperation, equity, and the need for detailed policy frameworks to accelerate peatland protection and rewetting. It also emphasizes the multiple benefits of peatland restoration, aligning with UN sustainability goals and promoting biodiversity. The paper concludes by highlighting interdisciplinary research efforts focused on the legal and political implementation of peatland rewetting, the economic and social challenges involved, and the potential of paludiculture as a sustainable solution.