Peatlands: hotspots for emissions reductions

Peatlands play a critical role in climate regulation, storing twice as much carbon as the entire world’s forest biomass and emitting large amounts of carbon when drained. Peat carbon stocks are distributed worldwide. The mitigation potential is very significant, but possible future possible emissions as well if no rapid action is taken to protect and restore them. The UNFCCC provides significant opportunities to safeguard and restore these concentrated and important reservoirs of terrestrial carbon.