Report on Planetary Photosynthetic Production and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An integrated analysis of global net primary production (NPP) from 2003 to 2021 reveals a net enhancement in the biosphere’s overall photosynthetic output. This increase is the result of two contrasting trends: a significant rise in terrestrial production and a concurrent decrease in marine production. These divergent ecosystem responses have profound implications for the achievement of several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to climate, marine life, and terrestrial ecosystems.

Analysis of Biospheric Production Trends (2003–2021)

Key Findings

1. An integrated assessment combining both terrestrial and marine net primary production was conducted for the 2003–2021 period.
2. The total biospheric primary production demonstrated a net increasing trend over the two decades.
3. This overall increase is driven by opposing trends in the planet’s land and ocean ecosystems.

Contrasting Ecosystem Responses

• Terrestrial Ecosystems: Exhibited a significant and predominant increase in net primary production, enhancing the role of land as a global carbon sink.
• Marine Ecosystems: Showed a discernible decrease in net primary production, partially offsetting the gains from land and indicating potential stress on oceanic food webs and carbon uptake capacity.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The findings are critical for accurately modeling the global carbon cycle and projecting future climate scenarios.
• An enhanced terrestrial carbon sink contributes positively to climate mitigation efforts.
• However, the weakening of the oceanic sink complicates the global carbon budget and underscores the need for comprehensive climate action that addresses both land and sea.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The decline in marine primary production poses a direct threat to the achievement of SDG 14.
• A reduction in phytoplankton, the base of most marine food webs, can lead to diminished fish stocks, loss of marine biodiversity, and disruption of marine ecosystem services.
• This trend challenges efforts to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems and conserve marine resources.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The increase in terrestrial NPP is a vital sign of the planet’s land-based ecosystem health and its capacity for carbon sequestration.
• This trend directly relates to targets for sustainable forest management, reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss.
• Monitoring the drivers of this increase is essential to ensure it reflects sustainable practices rather than temporary factors or ecological imbalances.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article discusses the “global carbon cycle” and the effects of “ongoing climate change” on the biosphere’s primary production. The analysis of trends in land and ocean carbon uptake (photosynthetic production) is fundamental to understanding and taking action on climate change.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The research explicitly analyzes “marine photosynthetic production” and reveals an “oceanic decrease” in net primary production. This directly relates to the health, productivity, and resilience of marine ecosystems, which is the core focus of SDG 14.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article’s integrated analysis covers “terrestrial… photosynthetic production” and finds that the overall increase in biospheric production is “predominantly driven by an increase over land.” This connects to the health of terrestrial ecosystems and their role as “land carbon sinks.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

     The article’s findings on the contrasting trends in land and ocean carbon sinks provide critical scientific data that can inform and shape climate policies. Understanding how different parts of the biosphere respond to climate change is essential for effective planning.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

     The reported “oceanic decrease” in net primary production is a direct measure of the declining health and productivity of marine ecosystems. This finding highlights the urgency of this target.

   • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.

     While not mentioning acidification directly, the study of the ocean’s role in the “global carbon cycle” and its response to “climate warming” is intrinsically linked to this target. The research itself is an example of the “enhanced scientific cooperation” needed to address these issues.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

     The analysis of “terrestrial… net primary production” provides a baseline for monitoring the health and productivity of land ecosystems. Understanding these trends is crucial for assessing land degradation and the effectiveness of restoration efforts.

   • Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

     The measurement of “net primary production” is a quantification of a fundamental ecosystem service (carbon fixation). This type of data allows for the integration of ecosystem values into planning and accounting frameworks.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Trend in Ocean Net Primary Production

  The article explicitly measures this, stating there is an “oceanic decrease.” This serves as a direct indicator for the health and productivity of marine ecosystems (SDG 14.2).

• Trend in Land Net Primary Production

  The article identifies an “increase over land.” This metric is a key indicator for the status of terrestrial ecosystems and their capacity as carbon sinks (SDG 15.3, SDG 13.2).

• Integrated Biospheric Primary Production

  The overall analysis of “land and ocean net primary production” and their “contrasting trends” serves as a high-level indicator for the planet’s carbon cycle and its response to climate change (SDG 13).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com