New atlas reveals climate-critical rangelands cover half the world’s land surface, supporting millions of people and critical ecosystems— yet often ignored despite threats
● 54 per cent of the world’s terrestrial surface consists of rangelands, but just 10 per cent of national climate plans (as part of the Paris Climate Agreement) include references to rangelands. ● New rangelands atlas can guide climate and biodiversity negotiators ahead of UN summits. ● Despite their importance to climate, nature and people, rangelands are threatened with escalating conversion and drastic effects of climate change.26 MAY 2021 – A new atlas published today shows that 54 per cent of the world’s land surface consists of vast tracts of land covered by grass, shrubs or