Climate impacts of FALU

The report details how FALU sectors, including agricultural activities and the global food system, contribute to climate change. FALU emissions are created by clearing and deforestation of forests, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases including methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The report indicates that reducing primary emissions from agricultural practices, utilising fertilisers and manures efficiently and reducing carbon leakage from agriculture can reduce 2.6 to 4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), equivalent to over 5-6% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Reducing greenhouse emissions from agriculture

The report highlights several ways to reduce greenhouse emissions from the agriculture sector. By decreasing fertilisers and implementing efficient manure treatment techniques, we can decrease the overuse and improper disposal of seepage and nitrogen emissions that intensify climate change. Other ways include improving animal diets, grazing practices and controlling livestock emissions and reducing deforestation.

Creating carbon sinks on working lands

The report goes on to detail ways in which carbon sinks can be created on working lands. Regenerative agriculture methods can aid in developing carbon sinks within the soil, and through planting trees, creating agroforestry practices, and restoring degraded agricultural lands. These practices are potential sinks for carbon that could accumulate to more than 80 gigatons of CO2e by 2050, equivalent to 10 percent of cumulative global CO2 emissions.

How much carbon can we sequester?

Various techniques can be used for sequestering carbon such as crop rotation, mulching techniques and reduced or no tillage. These methods can sequester carbon within the soil which can accumulate over time. Carbon sequestration potential varies depending on practices and climates. Using available data, global croplands could sequester up to around 132 to 206 gigatons of CO2e.

Recommendations

To address these ESG issues, the report recommends a series of actions to be taken by governments, individuals and corporations. These include reducing the primary emissions from agricultural practices, utilising fertilisers and manures efficiently, reducing carbon leakage from agriculture, creating carbon sinks within soil, agroforestry and degraded agricultural lands and reducing deforestation. Corporate and individual actions include reducing food waste, promoting healthy diets, restoring natural ecosystems and practicing regenerative agriculture. These actions will improve public health, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) emissions and alleviate the impacts of climate change.

Conclusion, co-benefit, and priorities for action

The report concludes that changing farming techniques, land use practices, and food systems can significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Regenerative farming, and other techniques highlighted in the report, have a significant capacity for carbon sequestration and an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and initiating carbon sinks. Improvements in agricultural practices and reducing deforestation, promoting healthy diets, and implementing more efficient use of manures and fertilisers can also generate social co-benefits while reducing GHG emissions. The report suggests there are other key priorities for action to address climate change, which include replacing carbon-based electricity with renewable energy, reimagining greenhouse gas intensive materials like concrete, steel and refrigerants, utilising livestock sector mitigation potentials and restoring natural ecosystems.