Connect: GRID-Arendal Annual Report 2017

The rapid changes now underway in permafrost regions and peatlands are ringing alarms. GRID-Arendal worked on two Rapid Response Assessments last year on these topics.

action to preserve them. The assessment the first part of a Global Peatlands Initiative, in which GRID-Arendal is a partner. Another rapid response assessment is being carried out with UN Environment under the working title Emerging Issues Related to Coastal Permafrost in a Changing Arctic. Natural Resources Canada and the Korea Polar Research Institute are also partners in this project that focuses on critical emerging issues related to the impacts of thawing coastal permafrost in the Arctic. The assessment will consider the critical and emerging issues and knowledge gaps related to warming permafrost, as well as associated policy issues.

Environmental and social impacts of peatland drainage Smoke on Water – Countering global threats from peatland loss and degradation was released at the November United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations in Bonn. Smoke on Water looks at peatland location, extent, threats and the policies to manage and protect them. The goal of this rapid respo se assessment, carried out on behalf of UN Environment and based on the efforts of more than 30 contributors, is to raise awareness about the importance of the world’s peatlands and to encourage immediate Environmental and social impacts of peatland drainage

Environmental and social impacts of peatland drainage

Kills animals and plants

G REENHOUSE G AS E MISSIONS G REENHOUSE G AS E MISSIONS G REENHOUSE G AS E MISSIONS

Increases GHG emissions

Kills animals and plants

Generates haze and toxic substances

Increases GHG emissions

Kills animals and plants

Generates haze and toxic substances Generates haze and toxic substances

B IODIVERSITY L OSS B IODIVERSITY L OSS B IODIVERSITY L OSS

Increases GHG emissions

I NCREASES FIRE FREQUENCY

I NCREASES FIRE FREQUENCY I NCREASES FIRE FREQUENCY

P EATLAND D RAINAGE P EATLAND D RAINAGE P EATLAND D RAINAGE

Increases risk of flooding and droughts Increases risk of flooding and droughts Increases risk of flooding and droughts

L AND DEGRADATION

I NCREASES CARBON LOSS VIA WATER

Land loss/subsidence

L AND DEGRADATION

I NCREASES CARBON LOSS VIA WATER I NCREASES CARBON LOSS VIA WATER

Negatively affects aquatic species

Land loss/subsidence

L AND DEGRADATION

Productivity loss

Transports contaminants and pollutants

Salt water intrusion

Negatively affects aquatic species

Land loss/subsidence

Productivity loss

Worsens drinking water quality

Transports contaminants and pollutants

Negatively affects aquatic s ecies

Salt water intrusion

Productivity loss

Worsens drinking water quality

Transports contaminants and pollutants

Salt water intrusion

L ÓPEZ , 2017

Based on FAO-Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme, 2014, Peatlands and Climate Change.

Worsens drinking water quality

GRID-Arendal

L ÓPEZ , 2017

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Based on FAO-Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme, 2014, Peatlands and Climate Change.

GRID-Arendal