This guide provides an initial introduction to the core concepts with which a natural systems-based carbon management and ecosystem services strategy can be developed. More detailed process guides are being developed to support carbon management opportunity assessment and strategy development. These process guides will be available at the Urban Drawdown Initiatives website under the “Resources” page.

For those wanting more resources across a range of related carbon drawdown topics, please explore this Carbon Drawdown Syllabus, which provides links to a host of useful resources—particularly overviews of actions currently being taken in early leading efforts around the world.

This document reimagines city-based climate action planning within a framework of systems change.

In 2019-2020, 5 USDN member cities—San Francisco (CA), San Luis Obispo (CA), Boulder (CO), Fayetteville (AK), and Cleveland (OH) worked with consultant Calla Rose Ostrander to develop a process guide and spreadsheet-based tool to optimize the capture and utilization of urban organic wastes.

Project Drawdown is a world-class research organization that reviews, analyses, and identifies the most viable global climate solutions, and shares these findings with the world. We partner with communities, policy-makers, non-profits, businesses, investors, and philanthropists to identify and deploy science-based, effective climate solutions—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.

The purpose of this report is to highlight some of the themes of recent state policy initiatives related to soil health, and to identify specific examples of these proposals. Some have been enacted, some have been proposed, and others are still being contemplated.

To help prepare for potential opportunities to advance healthy soils policy at the federal level in 2021, and at the state level on an ongoing basis, Breakthrough Strategies & Solutions solicited input on policy solutions from a few dozen experts in the areas of agricultural policy and healthy soils. Our focus for this assessment was somewhat narrow – healthy soils and soil carbon sequestration, rather than a full ecological and socioeconomic assessment of soils, farming, and rural development policies.

This report addresses greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in land-based ecosystems, land use, and sustainable land management in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation, desertification, land degradation, and food security. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.

A powerpoint covering Bleu Blanc Cœur founding principles in 4 slides, a BBC development: case study in France, and Bleu-Blanc-Coeur in practice.

The GCAP outlines ten goal areas and 15 measurable targets to guide Vancouver toward becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020. The plan was approved by City Council in 2011. Since then, 80% of the high priority actions named in the plan have been completed.

Scientists project that Vancouver will experience increased annual precipitation and temperatures, with hotter, drier summers…Adaptation refers to actions taken to respond to the impacts of climate change by taking advantage of opportunities, or reducing the associated risks.

This is a radical movement toward deeply regenerative and fundamentally just ways to grow, distribute and nourish ourselves with food. Originally expressed seven years ago in the form of a visionary policy platform, the Good Food for All Agenda represents the aspirations and commitments of what has grown into a nationally significant movement.

It is rare to find a single leverage point to effect change and create multiple benefits to the world around us. The “soil sponge,” lowly as it sounds, might just be that perfect leverage point for effective community investment, because it is the basic infrastructure that makes life on land possible.

Narrative is a values-based story about our core beliefs. Powerful narratives, used repeatedly over time, can change how people view the world and shape cultural common sense…Whether your issue is directly climate related, or intersectionally connected to climate justice, this toolkit can help you create messaging that will keep our work unified and collectively moving forward.

A Philanthropic Action Guide.

Modeling efforts focused on future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy and other sectors in California have shown varying capacities to meet the emissions reduction targets established by the state.

A Vision Plan to Complete and Sustain the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt.

Boulder natural areas represent a major existing carbon sink. Intact topsoil and standing vegetation contain millions of tons of sequestered carbon. Preventing land conversion and reducing the impacts of fires and floods are critical strategies for keeping this carbon and out of the atmosphere.