A New York University study suggests that returning specific grazing lands to their natural state could remove vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. By using a carbon opportunity intensity index, researchers identified areas where carbon sequestration is maximized with minimal impact on global beef production. The findings indicate that stopping grazing in high-potential areas could sequester 34 gigatons of carbon by the end of the century. This approach aims to balance climate goals with food security, projecting only a 13 percent loss in total pasture-based cattle output.
