316
The success of energy policies depends on capacity building, the removal of financial
barriers, the development of a solid legal framework, and sufficient regulatory stability
(robust evidence, high agreement). Property rights, contract enforcement, and emissions
accounting are essential for the successful implementation of climate policies in the
energy supply sector.
11.5.2 Food systems
In 2010, agriculture, deforestation, and other land use changes accounted for 24% of
global anthropogenic GHG emissions (IPCC 2014b). Agricultural emissions of GHGs
come from many sources, including how soils are managed, the digestive system of
livestock (enteric fermentation), manure management, cultivation of waterlogged
crops like rice, urea fertilizers, and the burning of agricultural residues.
Because soils and plants can be a sink for GHGs, net emissions can be reduced
by both lowering emissions and carbon sequestration in soils and biomass. Thus,
mitigation strategies on the supply-side of food systems include the following:
• Reducing emissions from croplands and livestock (principally methane and
nitrous oxide).
• Minimizing carbon losses from, and maximizing carbon sequestration in, biota
and soils. This can be achieved through better agricultural practices such as notill cropping and the maximizing tree growth through reduced deforestation and
increased afforestation and reforestation. (This approach can be built upon outside of food systems by using renewable products such as wood instead of steel
or concrete in construction. In a similar vein, some forms of biomass use for
energy can reduce GHG emissions.)
• Reducing energy inputs to agriculture. Direct energy inputs to agriculture include
energy for machinery, irrigation, and food preservation. Indirect energy inputs
include those used to produce fertilizers, pesticides, equipment, and other inputs.
GHG emissions related to indirect energy use are usually counted as emissions
from another sector, such as industry.
• Increasing productivity (yield) of crops, livestock, and fish for the same or
reduced energy inputs (direct and indirect). This can be accomplished through
crop varieties with higher yield or lower input demands, more efficient
agricultural/aquaculture practices, new productive uses of farm waste, and
reduced loses in the supply chain.
Demand-side mitigation strategies include:
• Reducing food waste (which also reduces GHG emissions from landfills).
• Modifying diets toward food choices that have lower associated GHG emissions. Related to this, but separate from food systems, is the use of agriculture/
aquaculture products to displace products with higher GHG emissions such as
construction material and fuels.
P. Saundry
The success of energy policies depends on capacity building, the removal of financial
barriers, the development of a solid legal framework, and sufficient regulatory stability
(robust evidence, high agreement). Property rights, contract enforcement, and emissions
accounting are essential for the successful implementation of climate policies in the
energy supply sector.
11.5.2 Food systems
In 2010, agriculture, deforestation, and other land use changes accounted for 24% of
global anthropogenic GHG emissions (IPCC 2014b). Agricultural emissions of GHGs
come from many sources, including how soils are managed, the digestive system of
livestock (enteric fermentation), manure management, cultivation of waterlogged
crops like rice, urea fertilizers, and the burning of agricultural residues.
Because soils and plants can be a sink for GHGs, net emissions can be reduced
by both lowering emissions and carbon sequestration in soils and biomass. Thus,
mitigation strategies on the supply-side of food systems include the following:
• Reducing emissions from croplands and livestock (principally methane and
nitrous oxide).
• Minimizing carbon losses from, and maximizing carbon sequestration in, biota
and soils. This can be achieved through better agricultural practices such as notill cropping and the maximizing tree growth through reduced deforestation and
increased afforestation and reforestation. (This approach can be built upon outside of food systems by using renewable products such as wood instead of steel
or concrete in construction. In a similar vein, some forms of biomass use for
energy can reduce GHG emissions.)
• Reducing energy inputs to agriculture. Direct energy inputs to agriculture include
energy for machinery, irrigation, and food preservation. Indirect energy inputs
include those used to produce fertilizers, pesticides, equipment, and other inputs.
GHG emissions related to indirect energy use are usually counted as emissions
from another sector, such as industry.
• Increasing productivity (yield) of crops, livestock, and fish for the same or
reduced energy inputs (direct and indirect). This can be accomplished through
crop varieties with higher yield or lower input demands, more efficient
agricultural/aquaculture practices, new productive uses of farm waste, and
reduced loses in the supply chain.
Demand-side mitigation strategies include:
• Reducing food waste (which also reduces GHG emissions from landfills).
• Modifying diets toward food choices that have lower associated GHG emissions. Related to this, but separate from food systems, is the use of agriculture/
aquaculture products to displace products with higher GHG emissions such as
construction material and fuels.
P. Saundry