The chapter discusses the temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition and its potential feedbacks to climate change. It highlights the significant amount of carbon stored in soils, including peatlands, wetlands, and permafrost, which can influence global carbon cycles. The authors review the controversy surrounding the effects of climate change on soil carbon stocks, emphasizing the need to understand the intrinsic and apparent temperature sensitivity of decomposition. They explain that the intrinsic temperature sensitivity is influenced by the molecular structure and ambient temperature, while environmental constraints can obscure this sensitivity, leading to lower observed 'apparent' temperature sensitivity. The chapter also explores the factors controlling decomposition, such as substrate availability, physical and chemical protection, drought, flooding, and freezing. It discusses common modeling approaches and evidence for temperature feedbacks, noting that while some studies suggest a positive feedback, others find no significant effect. The authors argue that the debate should focus on distinguishing between intrinsic and apparent temperature sensitivity and understanding how environmental constraints will change with climate change. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of studying wetlands, peatlands, and permafrost soils, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change and could release large amounts of carbon if current constraints are removed.The chapter discusses the temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition and its potential feedbacks to climate change. It highlights the significant amount of carbon stored in soils, including peatlands, wetlands, and permafrost, which can influence global carbon cycles. The authors review the controversy surrounding the effects of climate change on soil carbon stocks, emphasizing the need to understand the intrinsic and apparent temperature sensitivity of decomposition. They explain that the intrinsic temperature sensitivity is influenced by the molecular structure and ambient temperature, while environmental constraints can obscure this sensitivity, leading to lower observed 'apparent' temperature sensitivity. The chapter also explores the factors controlling decomposition, such as substrate availability, physical and chemical protection, drought, flooding, and freezing. It discusses common modeling approaches and evidence for temperature feedbacks, noting that while some studies suggest a positive feedback, others find no significant effect. The authors argue that the debate should focus on distinguishing between intrinsic and apparent temperature sensitivity and understanding how environmental constraints will change with climate change. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of studying wetlands, peatlands, and permafrost soils, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change and could release large amounts of carbon if current constraints are removed.