Dataset for the Global Change Biology paper "Feasibility of the 4 per 1000 aspirational target for soil carbon. A case study for France", published as part of the French 4 per mille study.

Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is a promising way to mitigate the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Based on a simple ratio between CO2 anthropogenic emissions and SOC stocks worldwide, it has been suggested that a 0.4% (4 per 1000) yearly increase of SOC stocks could compensate for current anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Here, we used a reverse RothC modelling approach to estimate the amount of C inputs to soils required to sustain current SOC stocks and to increase them by 4‰ per year over a period of 30 years. We assessed the feasibility of this aspirational target first by comparing the amount of C inputs required with net primary productivity (NPP) flowing to the soil, and second by considering the SOC saturation concept. Calculations were performed for mainland France, at a 1 km grid cell resolution. This dataset gives the main results supporting these conclusions, as well as the uncertainty attached to these results.