Peatlands as a Natural Climate Solution

This thesis analysis the viability of peatlands as a Natural Climate Solution (NCS) under different climatic and economic future conditions, for the case of Schleswig-Holstein (northern Germany). Peatlands are a major terrestrial carbon store, however they emit vast amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to drainage (currently ca. 3% of all anthropogenic GHG-emissions). While the rewetting of drained peatlands can generally reduce GHG-emissions, the effect might be compromised by Climate Change, as it is depending particularly on wet and cool climatic conditions (in the northern hemisphere). The thesis explores the possible emission feedbacks of peatlands to Climate Change, in order to determine the effectiveness of rewetting (as a NCS) under a changing climate. As further GHG-emissions cause damages to society, which can be expressed in the Social Cost of Carbon, an economic evaluation of peatland-emissions was added, in order to assess if peatland rewetting can be economically sensible in the future. Methodologically, a literature review was conducted, reviewing existing findings on climate and peatland relationships as well as carbon pricing. Subsequently, an explorative model was designed, that relates atmospheric temperature to peatland water table height, allowing for GHG-emission-estimates of different peatland management types (wet, rewetted, drained) under two climate scenarios (RCP2.6 & 8.5), between 2020-2100. Costs were calculated in accordance to a low and high carbon price pathway, applied to the calculated emissions. The results indicate that climate warming will increase peatland emissions and costs, particularly for drained sites. Rewetting (and conserving wet sites) lowers costs and emissions significantly. A timely rewetting seems reasonable, as relative emissions rise exponentially with ongoing temperature increases. However, the scope for land-users to rewet agricultural drained peatlands seems stymied by existing policies, rather than by biophysical realities. The results seem to fit with other studies, despite simplified assumptions made.