Examining the EU's Efforts to Combat GHG Emissions in Agriculture

The agricultural sector relies heavily on favorable climate conditions to achieve its peak productivity. Despite this dependence, it stands as one of the primary contributors to global warming, mainly due to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) stemming from agricultural activities. According to a 2023 Joint Research Center (JRC) report, the agricultural sector alone contributed approximately 12% of the total GHG emissions, amounting to 6.49 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-eq), which reflects a 0.46% year-on-year (YoY) increase, and a significant 20.41% rise over the 1990 level. This escalation in GHG emissions from agriculture is attributable to the rising global population and the consequent surge in food demand.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there are different types of GHG, with the major ones being carbon dioxide (CO₂) with a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, methane (CH₄) with a GWP of 29.8, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) with GWP of 273. It is worth noting that GWP is an index that indicates the warming effect a gas exerts over a given period, typically 100 years, with CO₂ taken as a reference point. Consequently, the GWP for all other GHGs reflects the multiple warming they induce compared to CO₂.

EU Perspective

According to JRC, the leading contributors to GHG emissions in 2022 were China, the United States (US), India, the European Union (EU), Russia, and Brazil, collectively responsible for 61.6% of global carbon emissions. Notably, the EU's GHG emissions in 2022 were 27% lower than in 1990, totaling 3.59 gigatons of CO₂-equivalent, representing 6.7% of global emissions, and marking a 0.8% decrease from 2021. The European Environment Agency (EEA) highlights that agricultural GHG emissions totaled 382.6 million metric tons (mmt) of CO₂-equivalent in 2022, a 0.39% decline compared to 2021 and a 2% decrease over the 2005 level. Over the years, EU agricultural GHG emissions have consistently decreased, with an estimated reduction of approximately 24% compared to 1990 levels, as per JRC estimates.

Figure 1: EU Agricultural GHG Emissions from 2005 to 2022

According to the EEA, emissions of CH₄ from enteric fermentation and N₂O from soils contribute significantly to agricultural GHG emissions, representing 48% and 31% of the total, respectively. CH₄ emissions from manure management rank as the third most significant source, accounting for approximately 17% of total emissions. Other sources, collectively, make minor contributions, comprising less than 5% of agricultural GHG emissions overall.

The persistent reduction in GHG emissions from agriculture within the EU can be attributed to the stringent measures and regulations put in place. A key example is the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which dates back to 1962 and encompasses objectives such as climate change mitigation, environmental conservation, landscape preservation, biodiversity protection, and support for generational renewal. Over the years, the EU has continually updated the CAP to incentivize farmers to embrace more sustainable agricultural practices, particularly those geared towards reducing GHG emissions. These revisions have entailed initiatives to promote agroecology, encourage organic farming methods, and expand agroforestry practices.

With the existing measures in place, the EEA anticipates GHG emissions from the agricultural sector to decrease to approximately 373.5 mmt of CO₂-equivalent by 2030 and 362.9 mmt of CO₂-equivalent by 2050. This reflects a 2.38% and 5.15% decline, respectively, compared to the 2022 level.

Acknowledging the pressing threat of climate change highlighted by extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and floods, the EU has intensified its efforts, setting ambitious targets under the European Green Deal (EGD) in Dec-19. These targets aim to help Europe's economy and society achieve climate neutrality by 2050, with an interim objective of reducing net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to the 1990 level. The EEA suggests that through additional measures, GHG emissions from agriculture could further decrease to 358.7 mmt of CO₂-equivalent by 2030 and 343.2 mmt of CO₂-equivalent by 2050, representing a 6.25% and 10.30% reduction, respectively, compared to the 2022 level.

One of the strategies of the EGD is the Farm to Fork Strategy, implemented in May-20, intending to transform food production, distribution, and consumption to tackle environmental and public health challenges. This strategy emphasizes the significance of sourcing food locally to minimize the GHG emissions linked to transportation and advocates for sustainable and organic farming methods. However, its trajectory is becoming increasingly uncertain as it faces growing opposition from EU farmers who are alarmed by escalating production expenses and apprehensive about the repercussions of rigorous climate regulations on agricultural livelihoods.

Another strategy is the development of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Dec-22. This regulation is slated to take effect on December 30, 2024, for large businesses and in Jun-25 for small and medium enterprises. The EU introduced this regulation in response to the alarming rates of deforestation and forest degradation, which contribute to over 10% of global GHG emissions. The Nature Conservancy indicates that agricultural production is the leading driver of global deforestation, responsible for about 80% of total forest conversion. Notably, the EU is a significant contributor to deforestation, importing products associated with 13 to 16% of global trade-related deforestation, leading to the clearance of 203 thousand hectares (ha) of forests and the emission of 116 mmt of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Figure 2: EU GHG Emission Contributors in 2022

Furthermore, the EU Parliament finalized its approval of new regulations to reduce pollution from livestock farms in Mar-24, although with dilutions compared to the original proposal. The law aims to tighten restrictions on waste disposal and emissions from farms and factories to mitigate environmental harm. However, it excludes intensive cattle farming, despite the EEA indicating that it is the primary source of GHG emissions among livestock. Instead, the European Commission (EC) is expected to assess how to address emissions from cattle farming by 2026. Nevertheless, the regulation focuses on pig farms with a minimum of 350 livestock units, more than doubling the initial threshold proposed by the EC. Additionally, these regulations will extend to poultry farms with over 280 livestock units by 2030. The EC's initial proposal in 2022 aimed to impose these limits on all cattle, pig, and poultry farms with more than 150 livestock units, encompassing approximately 185 thousand of Europe's largest farms.

In conclusion, climate change has emerged as a stark reality, driven by GHG emissions, necessitating concerted efforts from every nation to mitigate its carbon footprint. The EU stands as a beacon in this endeavor, prioritizing and endorsing sustainable development across economic sectors, notably agriculture, setting a precedent for others to follow suit. Despite encountering resistance to implementing climate-focused regulations, the EU remains steadfast in its mission. Moreover, global institutions like the World Bank have intensified their efforts to combat climate change, exemplified by initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture (CSA). The CSA approach seeks to enhance productivity while minimizing strain on natural resources, reducing vulnerability to climate-related risks, and curbing GHG emissions within the food system. Additionally, it aims to deter deforestation resulting from cropland expansion and bolster carbon sequestration in plants and soils.