Background

The objective of the Paris Agreement is to keep the increase in global mean temperature well below 2°C above pre‑industrial levels. Achieving this goal requires a drastic reduction in emissions and reaching climate neutrality in the second half of the 21st century. Terrestrial ecosystems (forests, grasslands, croplands, natural freshwater ecosystems—rivers, streams, peatlands—mountain, coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, as well as peri‑urban and urban areas) will be heavily mobilized both to reduce emissions (e.g., lowering emissions from the agricultural sector, increasing the use of biomass) and to absorb residual, unavoidable emissions (carbon sinks in soils and biomass). This contribution must be achieved while preserving natural ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of managed and semi‑natural ecosystems, so as to maintain or enhance their capacity to provide other ecosystem services. This requires advances in our understanding of carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems.

FairCarboN aims to significantly advance our understanding of carbon dynamics in continental ecosystems. The programme builds on the strength and diversity of the national scientific community across multiple institutions, as well as on the assets of research infrastructures in metropolitan France, the overseas territories, and internationally—particularly in countries of the Global South. FairCarboN seeks to elevate France’s scientific leadership to the highest international level on this strategic topic. The programme is also designed to remain open to stakeholders and to contribute to scientific expertise and support for public policy. Mobilizing this broad community through such an ambitious programme is a sine qua non condition for accurately determining the potential contribution of continental ecosystems to climate‑change mitigation—without which the Paris Agreement target cannot be achieved.