case studies

• Siberia


  • Siberia tundra is one of the largest regions experiencing rapid climate change
  • frozen holly mammoth remains have been released as permafrost has melted
  • thick layers of permafrost containing organic matter have accumulated
  • tundra vegetation is a huge carbon store
• USA - cattle 


  • emit 5 million tonnes of methane per year
  • 20% of total methane emissions in the USA
• Rice 


  • rice yields in Asia and North America has increased by 25% due to increased co2 in the atmosphere
  • resulted in a 40% increase in methane emissions
  • 50% of population rely on rice as their main food source
• Shipling park - Suffolk

  • a large arable farm specialising in wheat, barley, oats, spelt, quinoa and sheep grazing
  • emissions are 1150 tonnes of co2 mainly from fuel for machinery and nitrous oxide from crop residues and green manures
  • 250 sheep contribute 6.6% emissions
  • 40% of emissions are offset by carbon sequester
  • raising the amount of organic matter to store more carbon - 4x more than emissions
• Florida US


  • sea level rise has caused water to come up through drains
  • responded by raising roads and electric pumps which cost $400million
  • raised taxes which will last 40-50 years
  • US is the biggest emitter of fossil fuels
• China and India


  • china is the world's largest polluter and India the 3rd
  • had power shortages and blackouts
  • 3rd/4th largest reserve of coal
  • had 1/2 years rainfall in 5 years
  • 20% of people have no electricity
  • people had to wear facemarks outside and switch to renewable energy
• Cloffrickford farm - net carbon zero

  • fields are ploughed, sown and rolled in a few days to minimise emissions
  • fields for spring crops aren't ploughed until February so wildlife can use shelter and food sources on the uncultivated land
  • farm manure and compost is used rather than fertilisers
  • wind turbines produce 11 megawatts of electricity per day
  • solar panels produce 16 kilowatts of electricity per day
  • reduced emissions by 80% by using hydrogen as fuel
  • several areas of trees, shrubs, peat and wetland
  • stones removed from fields are used to repair roads not sent to landfill
• Indonesia 


  • highest deforestation rate in the world
  • deforestation for paper, pulp and palm oil
  • 70% of deforestation occurs in forests on mineral soils, 30% in carbon rich peat forest
  • peatland is easily eroded so increased decomposition of organic matter releases co2
  • no longer a carbon sink
  • 85% of emission are from rainforest and peatland degradation and loss
  • fires caused by illegal slash and burn
  • emission from fires equivalent to uk's total annual emissions