Global literature review and survey of implementation constraints on natural climate solutions
This global analysis combines a literature review and survey of natural climate solutions projects to identify barriers to implementation across 137 countries. Researchers documented 46 constraints affecting protection, restoration, and land management pathways, with policy coordination, implementation capacity, and knowledge gaps emerging as major challenges to climate mitigation.
Subject Tags
- Natural climate solutions
- Climate mitigation
- Land management
Abstract
Natural Climate Solutions – protection, restoration, and improved management of lands and waters that reduce greenhouse gasses – have large climate change mitigation potential. However, lack of comprehensive information on implementation challenges hinders the adoption of Natural Climate Solutions and the delivery of near-term mitigation. Using a global survey of Natural Climate Solutions projects and a systematic review of recent studies, we map 46 constraints in eight categories, yielding 15,572 geo-referenced pathway-constraint observations from 501 studies and projects in 137 countries covering 20 of 22 United Nations subregions. Social-behavioral, Knowledge, and Government-Organizational are the most-reported constraint categories, and lack of policy coordination or implementation capacity the most-observed constraint and most frequently top-ranking constraint for pathways and subregions. Despite broad congruence, top constraint and category rankings vary among subregions and pathways, respectively. We find that projects generally encounter diverse sets of challenges. Without enabling efforts, near-term mitigation from Natural Climate Solutions may remain well below its biophysical potential.
Citation
Kroeger, T., Erbaugh, J.T., Luo, Z. et al. Global literature review and survey of implementation constraints on natural climate solutions. Nat Commun 17, 4580 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70482-4
TNC Authors
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Timm Kroeger
Sr Environmental Economist
The Nature Conservancy
Email: tkroeger@tnc.org -
James Erbaugh
Applied Social Scientist. Global Science
The Nature Conservancy
Email: james.erbaugh@tnc.org -
Zhixian Luo
Program Analyst and Coordinator
The Nature Conservancy
Email: zhixian.luo@tnc.org -
Priya Shyamsundar
Lead Economist. Global Science
The Nature Conservancy
Email: priya.shyamsundar@tnc.org -
Peter Ellis
Dir, Global Natural Climate Solutions Science
The Nature Conservancy
Email: pellis@tnc.org -
Kemen G. Austin
Portfolio Director
The Nature Conservancy
Email: kemen.austin@tnc.org