Affordable and readily available actions can make food supplies safer and more resilient, especially for vulnerable and poor people.
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2024 – The world's agricultural system can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions through affordable and readily available actions while continuing to feed a growing population, according to a new report from the World Bank. It offers a huge opportunity to reduce emissions by almost a third.
Recipe for a livable planet: Achieving net-zero emissions in agricultural systems outlines actions that all countries can take. These will increase food supply security, make food systems more resilient to climate change, and help protect vulnerable populations during this transition.
“The food on your plate may taste good, but it also represents a sizable slice of the climate change emissions pie,” said World Bank Managing Director Axel van Trotzenburg. “The good news is that the world's food system can heal the planet, keeping carbon in the ground while making soils, ecosystems and people healthier, and this can be done within our lifetimes.” is within reach, but countries must act now, simply by changing the intermediate state.' emissions from agricultural products can be reduced by one third. ”
The report points out that agricultural systems are a huge untapped source of low-cost climate solutions. Unlike other sectors, we can have a huge impact on climate change by reducing emissions and naturally extracting carbon from the atmosphere.
Recognizing that countries will achieve their climate goals in different ways, the report identifies a menu of solutions from which to choose.
High-income countries can take the lead by providing more support to low- and middle-income countries to adopt low-emission agricultural practices and technologies. This includes technical assistance to forest conservation programs that generate reliable carbon credits. High-income countries can also shift subsidies away from high-emission food sources. This will reveal their prices and help you compare and save on low-emission food options. Middle-income countries have a major role to play in curbing up to three-quarters of global agricultural emissions through greener practices, such as reducing emissions from livestock. Investing in rice and healthy soil, reducing food loss and waste, and using land more efficiently. One-third of the world's opportunities to reduce agricultural emissions relate to sustainable land use in middle-income countries. Low-income countries can avoid the mistakes made by richer countries and take a different path by seizing opportunities to become greener and more climate-friendly. A more competitive economy. Given that more than half of agricultural emissions in low-income countries come from deforestation for food production, protecting and restoring forests can help promote sustainable economic development in low-income countries. Become.
All actions are taken to achieve net zero through a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions in the food system, including fertilizer and energy, crop and livestock production, and packaging and distribution throughout the farm-to-fork value chain. It should take place in the country of
The report found that the returns on investments in reducing agricultural emissions far outweigh the costs. Cutting agricultural emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 would require annual investment to increase to $260 billion per year. Twice as much money is spent annually on agricultural subsidies, many of which have negative effects on the environment. Reducing wasteful subsidies can cover some of this investment, but additional funding is essential to get it to net zero.
Making these investments will generate over $4 trillion in benefits, ranging from improved human health, food and nutrition security, quality jobs and profits for farmers, and increased carbon retained in forests and soils. It will lead to
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