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Quick summary: Discover the crucial role of Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Learn how sustainable practices and carbon management solutions are transforming the AFOLU sector, contributing to global climate goals. Explore the impact of AFOLU's efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
In the fight against climate change, the Agriculture, forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector plays a pivot role in both contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and offering powerful solutions for mitigation and adaptation. As one of the largest contributors to global emissions, AFOLU holds a immense potential to reshape our planet’s future.
According to IPCC, do you know that AFOLU is responsible for approximately 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions and these emissions include emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use?
AFOLU is an important sector when it comes to climate action. Prioritizing sustainable land use and agriculture practices not only reduces the emissions but ensures food security, protects biodiversity and builds community resilience. Sustainable land management practices like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture and reforestation have the potential to sequester significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.
According to IPCC, these practices can sequester up to 6 GtCO2e per year by 2050.
In this blog, we delve into the intricate world of AFOLU, exploring its impact on climate change, its role in emission reduction, and the transformative nature-based solutions it offers. Join us in this journey of understanding and discover how AFOLU can be a game changer in safeguarding our planet for generations to come.
Agriculture, Forestry and other Land Use (AFOLU) plays an important role in food security and sustainable development. Plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and nitrogen from the soil during their growth and redistribute it among the above and below ground living biomass, soil organic matter and dead residues. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are released into the atmosphere by decomposition of dead plant biomass, soil organic matter and combustion. The anthropogenic land-use activities like management of croplands, forests, wetlands and grasslands and changes in land-use like deforestation and conversion of forest lands and grasslands to croplands result in superimposition of natural fluxes. AFOLU activities result in both source and sinks of CO2 and non-CO2 emissions from livestock and rice cultivation and manure storage and biomass burning.
AFOLU while fighting against climate change also ensures that the different ecosystems receive the necessary resources. Addressing the AFOLU sector remains a primary option in reducing global warming. AFOLU supports to remain in the 1.5˚C pathway There is a need for effective management in order to achieve the desired benefits to protect the environment, while conserving the natural resources.
AFOLU currently emits 13 to 21% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions.
Agriculture is the largest contributor accounting for 70% of total emissions from the sector. Livestock production, rice cultivation and fertilizer use are among the biggest sources of emissions.
Deforestation and forest degradation accounts for 10% of global GHG emissions.
Tropical deforestation alone is responsible for around 8 % of global emissions.
44% of methane emissions come from agriculture, peatland destruction and other land-based sources.
Deforestation and land-use change are major contributors to GHG emissions and biodiversity loss. This makes sustainable land management practices an absolute necessity to address climate crisis and protect ecosystems. Due to their significant contribution to GHG emissions, AFOLU sector is uniquely positioned to deliver mitigation benefits in climate change. The deployment of finance in climate mitigation is therefore critical to help in achieving the Paris goals.
Agriculture and food systems are vulnerable to climate related shocks, especially in low-income countries. There is a direct impact on the quality and yield of agriculture production resulting in food insecurity and economic loss. AFOLU sector has an economic importance in low income countries, constituting 25 % of their GDP and providing employment to 63% of the workforce.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and hence the forests and other ecosystems that have developed over years store vast amounts of carbon. Farming and burning of plant material results in change of this land from being a carbon sink to a source of GHG emissions, thereby having a negative impact on the emission balance. Increasing plant biomass contributes to carbon sequestration and reduces carbon dioxide concentration and hence management of woodland impacts the amount of GHGs in the atmosphere.
One of the primary sources of agriculture emissions is enteric fermentation, the natural digestive process of ruminant animals such as cows, sheep and goats. During this process, microbes in the animal’s stomach break down plant materials releasing methane gas as byproduct. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a heat trapping capacity many times greater than CO2. As livestock farming continues to expand to meet the growing demand for animal-based products, the emissions from enteric fermentation rise proportionately.
Another significant contributor to agriculture emissions is rice cultivation, particularly in flooded rice paddies. The flooded conditions create an anaerobic environment, ideal for the growth of methane-producing microbes. Submerged rice paddies release substantial amounts of methane into the atmosphere, further exacerbating the climate crisis.
The use of synthetic fertilizers releases nitrous oxide (N2O), another potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. When nitrogen-based fertilizers are applied to soils, some of the nitrogen is converted into nitrous oxide, contributing to global warming and ozone depletion.
Deforestation and land-use changes also play a role in agricultural emissions. As forests are cleared for expanding farmlands, the carbon stored in trees and vegetation is released as CO2, contributing to the overall carbon footprint of agriculture.
Despite the daunting challenges posed by agriculture emissions, the sector holds promise of innovative solutions. Sustainable agriculture practices such as regenerative agriculture, agroforestry and precision agriculture offer opportunities to mitigate emissions and build resilience in the face of climate change. By implementing these practices, farmers can improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce the need for synthetic inputs, creating a climate friendly agriculture system. As we navigate the complexities of feeding a growing global population, we must address the environmental impacts of our agriculture practices. Through a combination of sustainable farming practices, technology advancements and policy support, we can cultivate a greener future where agriculture coexists harmoniously with the planet’s delicate ecosystems.
AFOLU emission reduction projects focus on restoring and protecting forests and implementing sustainable land use methods to tackle climate action.
Forests absorb 25 to 30% of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions released in the atmosphere.
Forests in their tree growth capture the carbon in the wood, roots and soil. They provide us vital resources like food and oxygen and regulate the temperatures on earth and provide homes to indigenous communities. However, according to Global Forest Watch, the extent of world’s intact forest landscapes decreased by 12% between 2000 and 2020.
Today, there has been realization on the importance of forests and planting trees has been one of the potential solutions to leverage positive climate effects. Along with planting, these trees need to be managed and cared to keep them healthy and this is possible with AFOLU projects. AFOLU projects focussed on forest restoration plan their project activities in such a way that trees receive the required care. The carbon credits that these projects generate help finance and the people who earn their livelihoods in these areas.
There are other projects focussed on improving land use through sustainable agriculture practices that are less harmful and help in preserving the natural resources. Regenerative agriculture seeks to minimize external inputs outside the farm and emphasizes the use of internal resources thereby minimizing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The wide range of regenerative practices include conservation tillage, cover cropping, crop rotations, residue retention and planned grazing. These practices enhance productivity, sequester carbon and preserve biodiversity.
AFOLU projects fall under the following categories.
Carbon credits from climate positive projects are quickly being adopted to encourage sustainable business practices and help reach net-zero goals. The voluntary carbon market worth 4! Billion in 2021 is attracting the interest of global corporations. While most of the projects used to generate these credits are related to renewable energy and afforestation, carbon farming is also picking up. These programs enhance the role of agriculture in climate mitigation through soil carbon sequestration and subsequent trading of carbon offsets. Verra’s VCS program leads the way in developing methodologies and tools to unlock the carbon reduction potential of AFOLU projects. The Verified Carbon Standard is the widely used standard in the sector.
With the demand to feed the growing population, deforestation and conversion of natural habitats to croplands and pasture is on the rise and this contributes significantly to GHG emissions.
Agriculture uses up freshwater resources and this has led to water scarcity, climate change and pollution.
Unsustainable land use practices like excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, overgrazing leads to soil degradation affecting soil health and its ability to sequester carbon.
Intensive agriculture practices and land-use changes has threatened the survival of plant and animal species and resulted in biodiversity loss.
The people employed in this sector live in poverty and lack access to resources and knowledge, thereby affecting their livelihoods.
AFOLU projects run into the risk of natural risks like fires, hurricanes, pest invasions and climate change.
As global warming continues to rise, more support on the finance and time is required for AFOLU to mitigate the continuous effects of climate change. AFOLU requires continuous support from all its stakeholders in order to achieve the environmental goals. It is important to establish long-term policies that could provide sustainable measures to the agriculture and forest communities.
Sustainable Farm management practices can have a significant impact on reducing GHG emissions and hence improving productivity in the AFOLU sector. Farm management Software can help in implementing standard package of practices for sustainable land management. Soil health, Nutrient management and Livestock management are critical to reduce GHG emissions. Enhancing crop management practices, reducing input usage and improving yields help to counter climate changes.
Remote sensing involves use of satellites to monitor land use changes, deforestation and other factors that affect emissions from the AFOLU sector. Simpler validation and verification processes for carbon credits help to scale carbon projects faster and promote sustainable practices.
TraceX is addressing climate change with nature-based solutions in the AFOLU sector. The DMRV tool fast tracks the verification process with greater accuracy and credibility. Realizing quality credits builds trust and integrity in the carbon markets. The Farm management solutions empower producers to follow sustainable agriculture practices and capture data on real-time to ensure transparency in the markets. End to end traceability drives sustainability of the agriculture sector impacting climate change.
Trace Carbon empowers the AFOLU sector to proactively address emissions, adopt sustainable practices, and contribute to global climate goals. Through data driven insights and actionable strategies, the platform helps organizations play a pivotal role in the transition to a low carbon and sustainable future.
The real challenge in the AFOLU sector is to judiciously determine the trade-offs and synergies among different sub- sectors that are highly interlinked. Paris agreement formally recognizes the role of AFOLU sector in climate change mitigation and expects that all parties take action on conserving and enhancing GHG sinks. AFOLU sector is also very important in Asia which accounts for the largest proportion of global AFOLU emissions. Understanding the role of AFOLU in a country’s emission profiles, costs of mitigation strategies and financing can help in adding further mitigation efforts.
AFOLU sector requires a holistic approach that takes into account social, economic and environmental factors to achieve sustainability. Working together to implement sustainable practices, farmers, policy makers and other stakeholders can contribute globally to mitigate climate change.
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