National research programme Carbon and Continental ecosystems (PEPR FairCarboN)

Understanding the role of terrestrial ecosystems in achieving carbon neutrality

As the climate crisis intensifies, the FairCarboN research programme aims to determine how terrestrial ecosystems, whose potential is under-exploited and poorly understood, can contribute effectively to climate change mitigation. It aims to structure French carbon research in a sustainable manner in order to identify the levers for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement, while preserving the services provided by natural environments.

The programme draws on a wide range of disciplines: ecology, agronomy, biogeochemistry, modelling and social sciences. FairCarboN aims to better understand and quantify the carbon cycle, its interactions with other cycles (water, nitrogen, phosphorus) and ecosystem responses to global change. It also studies the economic and social constraints on the implementation of public policies to harness the mitigation potential of terrestrial ecosystems.

There are numerous applications: improving agricultural practices to reduce emissions, restoring degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of biomass, accurately quantifying the potential contribution of terrestrial ecosystems to mitigation, and adapting territories to climate hazards. These advances could transform natural resource management by offering concrete solutions to reconcile food production, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

The expected results will inform public policy and support agricultural, forestry and urban practices that promote carbon sequestration. FairCarboN will thus contribute to a sustainable bioeconomy, the preservation of ecosystems and the development of innovations that respond to the environmental, social and economic challenges of the ecological transition.

PEPR FairCarboN website

PEPR FairCarboN LinkedIn page