Global Agricultural Emissions Rise, Threatening Climate Goals
Global agricultural emissions are on the rise, posing a significant challenge to achieving net-zero targets by 2030, according to a report published in Nature Food by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative. The report indicates that progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and net-zero agri-food emissions is lagging, with many goals now deemed virtually unattainable by the deadline.
To meet the 2030 targets, regions worldwide would need to increase their progress by approximately 70 percent per year over the next four years. However, most countries are currently managing only around five percent annual progress, according to lead author Bianca Carducci.
Data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that in 2023, global agrifood systems emissions reached 16.5 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent, marking a 21 percent increase since 2001. These emissions account for roughly one-third of human-made greenhouse gas emissions.
The FAO breakdown of emissions for 2023 reveals that farm-gate emissions from crops and livestock constitute 8.1 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent, pre- and post-production activities contribute 5.2 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent, and land-use change emissions add another 3.2 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent.
Regional disparities are evident, with Asia contributing 7.1 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent, a 53 percent increase since 2001, while emissions in Europe have decreased by six percent over the same period. The report highlights that the majority of new cropland-related emissions are originating from developing nations, exacerbating global inequalities in environmental burdens.