Agriculture and Climate Change
Draft Report
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
global warming is a consequence of greenhouse gas emissions
heat from the sun is trapped as gases build up in the atmosphere
emissions have increased by 40% since 1990
over 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas are emitted each year
emissions come from a range of industry sectors and processes
agriculture is a major contributor of greenhouse gases
Organic farming practices
organic farming has a significantly lower carbon footprint
greenhouse gas emissions are lower
45% less energy used compared to conventional farms
healthy soils are the foundation of organic production
healthy soil acts as a carbon sink absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
organic soil and crops are more resilient to the impacts of climate change
organic yields can be up to 40% higher in drought years
Carbon sinks
carbon sinks absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
the importance of carbon sinks has never been greater
the ocean is the world’s largest carbon sink followed by soil and forests
carbon sinks are crucial in managing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Industry sources
the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions is electricity and heat production - responsible for 37% worldwide
agriculture is the second largest cause - responsible for 22% of global emissions
10 countries produce more than 68% of emissions
Consequences of global warming
increased frequency of extreme weather events including:
torrential rains
floods
heatwaves
droughts
storms
average temperatures predicted to rise by 1.5ºC by 2050
global sea levels rise as glaciers retreat and ice sheets melt
more land at risk of coastal flooding
Effects on agriculture
higher CO2 levels affect crop yields and nutritional value
extreme temperatures can prevent crops from growing
torrential rains, floods and droughts can harm crops and reduce yields
rising sea levels may result in loss of agricultural land
increased migration of invasive pests that damage crops
global crop yields could decline by up to 30% by 2050
Challenges ahead
greenhouse gases now far exceed safe levels
extreme weather events will impact crop production
natural resources need to be protected
more resilient crop varieties are needed
protecting carbon sinks is essential for keeping the climate stable
food insecurity set to become a global issue
the world will need to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed an estimated 9 billion people