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Aerial view of small neighborhood garden plots

Table of Solutions

Below we present the individual Drawdown solutions, including their relevant sector(s) and their impact on addressing climate change.  We present the results of our analysis for two scenarios: Scenario 1 stops climate change close to 2˚C of global warming, and Scenario 2 stops climate change close to 1.5˚C of global warming.

To see the solutions in alphabetical order, order the list by solution. To rank them by size, you can click on Scenario 1 or 2.

The rankings shown here are based on projected emissions impact globally. The relative importance of a given solution can differ significantly depending on context and particular geographic, ecological, economic, political, or social conditions.

Q: Why are some solutions listed twice?

A: The carbon reduction potential for some solutions is split between their current role as sources, and potential future role as sinks.

* Gigatons CO2 Equivalent Reduced / Sequestered (2020–2050)

Solution Sector(s) Scenario 1 * Scenario 2 *
Smart Thermostats Electricity / Buildings 6.99 7.40
Building Automation Systems Electricity / Buildings 6.47 10.48
LED Lighting Electricity 16.07 17.53
Insulation Electricity / Buildings 16.97 19.01
Dynamic Glass Electricity / Buildings 0.29 0.47
High-Performance Glass Electricity / Buildings 10.04 12.63
Green and Cool Roofs Electricity / Buildings 0.60 1.10
District Heating Electricity / Buildings 6.28 9.85
High-Efficiency Heat Pumps Electricity / Buildings 4.16 9.29
Solar Hot Water Electricity / Buildings 3.59 14.29
Low-Flow Fixtures Electricity / Buildings 0.91 1.56
Water Distribution Efficiency Electricity 0.66 0.94
Building Retrofitting Electricity / Buildings 0.00 0.00
Net-Zero Buildings Electricity / Buildings 0.00 0.00
Concentrated Solar Power Electricity 18.60 23.96
Distributed Solar Photovoltaics Electricity 27.98 68.64
Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics Electricity 42.32 119.13
Micro Wind Turbines Electricity 0.09 0.13
Onshore Wind Turbines Electricity 47.21 147.72
Offshore Wind Turbines Electricity 10.44 11.42
Geothermal Power Electricity 6.19 9.85
Small Hydropower Electricity 1.69 3.28
Ocean Power Electricity 1.38 1.38
Biomass Power Electricity 2.52 3.57
Nuclear Power Electricity 2.65 3.23
Waste-to-Energy Electricity / Industry 2.04 3.00
Landfill Methane Capture Electricity / Industry 2.18 -1.60
Methane Digesters Electricity / Industry 9.83 6.18
Grid Flexibility Electricity 0.00 0.00
Microgrids Electricity 0.00 0.00
Distributed Energy Storage Electricity 0.00 0.00
Utility-Scale Energy Storage Electricity 0.00 0.00
Plant-Rich Diets Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 65.01 91.72
Reduced Food Waste Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 87.45 94.56
Forest Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 5.52 8.75
Indigenous Peoples’ Forest Tenure Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 8.69 12.93
Grassland Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 3.35 4.25
Peatland Protection and Rewetting Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 26.03 41.93
Coastal Wetland Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Coastal and Ocean Sinks 0.99 1.45
Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 1.36 0.68
Conservation Agriculture Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 13.40 9.43
Regenerative Annual Cropping Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 14.52 22.27
Nutrient Management Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 2.34 12.06
Farm Irrigation Efficiency Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 1.13 2.07
Improved Rice Production Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 9.44 13.82
System of Rice Intensification Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 2.78 4.26
Alternative Cement Industry 7.98 16.10
Bioplastics Industry 0.96 3.80
Composting Industry 2.14 3.13
Recycling Industry 5.50 6.02
Recycled Paper Industry 1.10 1.95
Refrigerant Management Industry / Buildings 57.75 57.75
Alternative Refrigerants Industry / Buildings 43.53 50.53
Walkable Cities Transportation 1.44 5.45
Bicycle Infrastructure Transportation 2.56 6.65
Electric Bicycles Transportation 1.31 4.07
Carpooling Transportation 7.70 4.17
Public Transit Transportation 7.51 23.36
High-Speed Rail Transportation 1.30 3.77
Telepresence Transportation 1.05 3.80
Hybrid Cars Transportation 7.89 4.63
Efficient Trucks Transportation 4.61 9.71
Electric Trains Transportation 0.10 0.65
Electric Cars Transportation 11.87 15.68
Efficient Ocean Shipping Transportation 4.40 6.30
Efficient Aviation Transportation 6.27 9.18
Biogas for Cooking Buildings 4.65 9.70
Improved Clean Cookstoves Buildings 31.34 72.65
Temperate Forest Restoration Land Sinks 19.42 27.85
Tropical Forest Restoration Land Sinks 54.45 85.14
Managed Grazing Land Sinks 16.42 26.01
Silvopasture Land Sinks 26.58 42.31
Multistrata Agroforestry Land Sinks 11.30 20.40
Tree Intercropping Land Sinks 15.03 24.40
Perennial Staple Crops Land Sinks 15.45 31.26
Perennial Biomass Production Land Sinks 4.00 7.04
Abandoned Farmland Restoration Land Sinks 12.48 20.32
Tree Plantations (on Degraded Land) Land Sinks 22.24 35.94
Bamboo Production Land Sinks 8.27 21.31
Coastal Wetland Restoration Coastal and Ocean Sinks 0.77 1.01
Biochar Production Engineered Sinks 2.22 4.39
Health and Education Health and Education 85.42 85.42
997.17
1576.47