New Report by Edge Environment Highlights Ways to Accelerate Usage of Natural Climate Solutions for Climate Impact Reduction

BOSTON, July 28, 2021 /3BL Media/ - International sustainability consultancy Edge Environment released this week a new report entitled Cultivating a Rich Ecosystem of Natural Climate Solutions, on the evolving landscape of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS). The report summarizes the tremendous climate impact reduction potential of solutions such as sustainable forestry, regenerative agriculture, wetlands initiatives, and more; details six top solutions for immediate, substantial, and cost-effective impact, and describes actions various organizations can take to make NCS a value-generating part of a robust climate impact reduction plan. The free report can be accessed through GreenBiz here.

Well-accepted climate science has shown that we must reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030, and to net zero by 2050, to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, in order to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. Natural Climate Solutions are activities that are focused on improved land management, particularly through conservation and restoration. NCS are estimated to have the potential to deliver approximately one-third of the global GHG emissions avoidance and/or reductions needed to achieve global 2030 and 2050 reduction goals. The Edge report outlines 3 main ways that these activities and practices have the potential to address climate change:

1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with land use changes
2. Capturing and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere
3. Improving ecosystem resilience to the predicted volatility of climate change

A broad array of Natural Climate Solutions has been identified across multiple terrains and environments, including solutions unique to grasslands, forests, and wetlands. The Edge report details six solutions that any organization - and especially those with an agricultural supply chain - should include as part of a robust climate impact reduction strategy. These six solutions are high priorities due to their combination of current viability and actionability, magnitude of potential benefit, and cost-effectiveness. View the report to discover what these solutions entail, the benefits unique to each, and real-world case studies of their application:

• Regenerative Agriculture
• Agroforestry
• Forest Restoration
• Urban Reforestation
• Coastal Wetland Protection & Restoration
• Peatland Protection & Restoration

Stakeholders from all sectors have a role to play in supporting and implementing Natural Climate Solutions. The report defines actionable next steps for Direct Actors (farmers, growers, ranchers, etc.), Demand Drivers (brands & organizations with agricultural inputs), Capital Providers (investors, carbon market participants, etc.), and Influencers (policy makers, NGOs, etc.) to accelerate the usage of, and benefit from, these important solutions.

“To achieve the critical and urgent levels of emissions reduction we must attain, we need to use all solutions at our disposal, and in this case, nature is showing us the way,” said Edge Global CEO Jonas Bengtsson. “At Edge, we are excited to build upon the work we’ve done for years with leading food brands and agricultural clients across our various regions, to help them incorporate the latest practices in NCS. We’re also excited that the latest additions to our US team will bring even further NCS expertise to our global team focused on sustainable agriculture and food ecosystems, to help accelerate these practices even more.”

In addition to announcing the launch of this report, Edge is pleased to introduce the two newest members of the North American team, NCS experts Heather Christensen and John Westley Magugu, who spearheaded this latest research.

Heather Christensen joins Edge US as a Consultant and Soil Science Specialist with a B.S. in Hydrogeology and an M.S. in Geological and Soil Science, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Heather will employ her areas of specialty, including aqueous geochemistry, carbon cycling, soil carbon and biogeochemistry, and greenhouse gas emissions from soils, to help Edge clients ensure they are applying the latest and best soil science to their NCS initiatives. “I’m looking forward to bringing my scientific background to Edge and our clients, and to applying my soil carbon and hydrology skills in a fast-paced, collaborative, high-impact environment,” said Heather.

John Westley Magugu joins Edge US as a Principal Consultant and US Natural Climate Solutions Lead. John will use his experience and expertise in rural and urban forestry, agriculture, environmental dynamics, and business to set the scientific and strategic direction for the Edge US NCS practice. John has a B.S. in Agroforestry and Rural Development from Moi University in Kenya; an M.S. in Urban Forestry, Planning, and GIS from Southern University & A&M College in Louisiana; a Ph.D. in Environmental Dynamics from the University of Arkansas; and is currently completing an MBA with a concentration in supply chain management and entrepreneurship at the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. “I’m always up for a challenge, and climate change is the greatest challenge we face as a society,” said John. “I am excited to lead our NCS work in the US, and to partner with our clients and global Edge team members dedicated to implementing proven solutions that are based on both good science and good business.”

“We are thrilled to have added team members with the combination of scientific expertise in NCS, understanding of the corporate sustainability environment, and outstanding collaborative spirit and cultural fit with our growing US team,” said Bryan Sheehan, Edge’s Managing Director for North America. “I look forward to the advancements and acceleration in climate impact reduction they will help drive alongside our clients and our Edge global teammates.”

Edge’s latest report, Cultivating a Rich Ecosystem of Natural Climate Solutions, is available for free download here.

About Edge Environment

Established in 2008, Edge is an international sustainability consultancy focused on serving clients based in the US and North America, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Our teams are based in the United States, Australia, and Chile.

We exist to help our clients create value by pursuing the world’s most fundamental imperative: creating a truly sustainable economy, society, and environment. We do this by combining our distinctive expertise in sustainability science, strategy and storytelling in a way that gives our clients the confidence to take ambitious action, and to do well by doing good.

We support our clients by supporting their needs across six areas:

• Carbon impact measurement and reduction, and climate resilience
• Circular economy and lifecycle thinking
• Sustainability leadership and communications
• Sustainability strategy
• Sustainable and ethical procurement and supply chain engagement
• Sustainable delivery – implementing sustainability strategies to drive results

In bringing together these diverse services, we are perfectly placed to guide clients from first steps to sustainability leadership, and from strategy through to on-the-ground implementation, no matter where the client is along their sustainability pathway. We serve clients in a wide range of industries, with particular focus in food, beverage, and agriculture; consumer products and electronics; life sciences/pharma/biopharma/medical devices; and the built environment/infrastructure/transportation.

Edge Environment Pty Ltd, the parent organization, is a Certified B-Corporation, and our US business, Edge Environment Sustainability Consulting, Inc., will also be pursuing B-Corporation certification.

To learn more about Edge, visit www.edgeenvironment.com, our LinkedIn page, or follow new developments via our newsletter or Insights blog.

For media inquiries related to Edge US (Edge Environment Sustainability Consulting, Inc.), contact:

Bryan Sheehan
Managing Director, North America
Bryan.sheehan@edgeenvironment.com
+1 774 206 9172

For media inquiries related to Edge’s global business or non-US locations, contact:

Richard Griffiths
Head of Industry Engagement
richard@edgeenvironment.com.au
+61 402 350 664