Agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions
Abstract
"The Fourth National Climate Assessment report, released in 2018, uses the highest estimates of greenhouse gas emissions (called RCP 8.5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to forecast substantial economic losses in the U.S. The section on agriculture warns that food and forage production will decline, soil and water resources will degrade, and human and livestock health will be challenged. While the potential to adapt to climate change exists within many parts of the agriculture sector, the report predicts large economic burdens are associated with these adaptations. The section on Midwest U.S. agriculture states "increased rainfall from April to June has been the most impactful climate trend for agriculture." The report warns that five-day maximum temperatures could move further above optimum conditions and closer to reproductive failure temperatures in many plant species. Climate change estimates, if realized, would increase environmental degradation from agricultural land use decisions. Farmers face two pressures from climate change. First, productivity and profitability may decrease. The variability of yields from extreme weather is difficult to manage. Second, many think agriculture, particularly animal agriculture, is a significant contributor to climate change. While many of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with meat production are from manure and enteric fermentation emissions, many are also traced back to feed crop production. Both crop and animal farmers are under pressure to reduce their GHG emissions. This guide presents basic information on agriculture's role in GHG emissions. It draws heavily upon a report issued in 2021 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) titled Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019. It also presents recent proposals for carbon reductions and a perspective on United Nation reports on agriculture and climate change."--First page.
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