Multifunctionality of Agricultural Solutions Address Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation while Helping Achieve the SDGs

Agricultural climate change mitigation solutions are often assessed for a single impact only, but their impacts on mitigation, adaptation, and other co-benefits are important to assess. Of the fourteen solutions assessed here, 25% show five or more mitigation impacts, and 92% show at least two. Tradeoffs must also be assessed, as 33% of the fourteen solutions had one impact that increased emissions. All but one solution showed adaptation impacts, with some showing up to 6 types of adaptation. Most solutions involved startup costs and a lag before profitability, a barrier to adoption which can be remedied. The fourteen solutions strongly enhanced achievement of 13 of the 15 SDGs. The multifunctional nature of agricultural solutions, if fully utilized, provides a powerful toolkit for addressing 21st century challenges. Engaging multifunctionality can also increase the impact of existing climate finance funds and potentially provide access to additional funding streams.