Land use change research examines how converting forests, grasslands and wetlands to agriculture, cities and infrastructure alters climate, ecosystems and human wellbeing. A core finding is that clearing vegetation releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and reduces the land’s capacity to absorb it. This makes land use one of the largest contributors to historical CO2 emissions, second only to fossil fuels. Peatlands and tropical forests are particularly critical, because draining and burning them releases dense carbon stocks accumulated over centuries.

Studies show that land is both a source and a potential sink of greenhouse gases. Practices such as reforestation, afforestation, agroforestry and improved soil management can remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in biomass and soils. However, there are limits. The total realistic potential of land based mitigation is constrained by the need for food production, water availability, biodiversity protection and the finite speed at which ecosystems can accumulate carbon.

Research also highlights trade offs and risks. Large scale bioenergy with carbon capture and storage could in principle deliver negative emissions, but would require very large land areas, increasing pressure on food systems and ecosystems. Poorly managed tree planting can reduce biodiversity and water availability. Abrupt land use change can also trigger local climate feedbacks, such as altered rainfall patterns and more intense heat extremes.

Overall, the literature concludes that transforming land management is essential for climate goals, but it must be integrated with rapid fossil fuel reductions and careful planning to protect food security and nature.