CHI Speaker Series: Brian Deal on "A Climate Plan for Illinois Natural and Working Lands Plus: geospatial analysis and modeling"

This presentation outlines a state-wide approach to leveraging natural and working lands for climate change mitigation in Illinois. The plan aims to establish the current and potential contribution of natural and working lands toward meeting Illinois’ climate commitments under the USCA and Paris Climate Agreement. The initiative features high-resolution (30×30 meter) GHG emissions and ecosystem services inventory with a primary focus on carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The work highlights how the Illinois landscape has lost significant carbon sequestration capacity since the 1800s, with current sequestration at approximately 22 million metric tons compared to 43 million historically. Through stakeholder engagement across multiple sectors and detailed scenario modeling, the plan will establish potential pathways toward net-zero land based emissions. The “Plus” component advances Illinois’ 30×30 Task Force goals by establishing a comprehensive science-based framework for land management and conservation.