Agriculture and the transition to zero emissions

The study examines the options available to Latin America and the Caribbean for reducing emissions from the agricultural sector and land use change, with the aim of achieving the goal of net-zero emissions. It analyzes mitigation scenarios, sustainable technologies, and public policies needed to reconcile agricultural production with environmental conservation, highlighting the role of low-carbon agriculture and sustainable management of rural ecosystems.

Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo

Dumas, P., Wirsenius, S., Searchinger, T., Vogt-Schilb, A., & Andrieu, N. (2022). Opciones de la agricultura y los cambios del uso del suelo para alcanzar cero emisiones netas en América Latina y el Caribe. Inter-american development bank working paper.

Agricultural water

70% of freshwater extracted worldwide is used for agriculture, with an even larger proportion used consumptively due to evapotranspiration from crops.

Banco Mundial (2022)

Banco Mundial

Loss of biodiversity

38-52% would be the national biodiversity loss in Colombia by 2033 if agricultural expansion is not controlled (Guerrero-Pineda, C. et al., 2022)

38-52% sería la pérdida de biodiversidad nacional en Colombia en 2033 si no se controla la expansión agrícola (Guerrero-Pineda, C. et, al., 2022)

Guerrero-Pineda, C. et, al., 2022. An investment strategy to address biodiversity loss from agricultural expansion

VSS with GHG Reduction Criteria

100% of the analyzed VSS (Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Organic, RSPO, ISCC, RTRS, ProTerra, FSC, PEFC) include required criteria for greenhouse gas reduction and carbon emissions (Larrea et al., 2021).

100% de los VSS analizados (Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Orgánico, RSPO, ISCC, RTRS, ProTerra, FSC, PEFC) incluyen criterios requeridos para reducción de gases de efecto invernadero y emisiones de carbono (Larrea et al., 2021).

Carbon Capture by Forests

2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide are absorbed by forests every year, making them critical for climate change mitigation (Larrea et al., 2021).

2.6 mil millones de toneladas de dióxido de carbono absorben los bosques cada año, haciéndolos críticos para la mitigación del cambio climático (Larrea et al., 2021).

Impact of Nitrous Oxide

57% of all agricultural GHG emissions come from nitrous oxide, where agricultural land management practices drive 94%, equivalent to 316 Tg CO2e of total U.S. N2O emissions (USEPA, 2021).

57% de todas las emisiones de GEI agrícolas provienen del óxido nitroso, donde las prácticas de manejo del suelo agrícola impulsan el 94%, equivalente a 316 Tg CO2e de las emisiones totales de N2O en EE.UU. (USEPA, 2021).

USEPA. (2021). Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks. EPA 430-R-21-005.

22 officials and 19 journalists trained

22 government officials and 19 journalists and media representatives strengthened their capacities between 2016 and 2017 on climate change and Guyana's National Adaptation Plan process.

Mitigation needs

474 billion will be needed by developing countries for mitigation and adaptation by 2030, according to commitments in 2016 NDCs (Kissinger et al., 2019).

Kissinger G., Gupta A., Mulder I., Unterstell N. (2019). Climate financing needs in the land sector under the Paris Agreement: An assessment of developing country perspectives. Land Use Policy, Volumen 83, 2019, Páginas 256-269, ISSN 0264-8377.

Agroforestry: 312 t C/ha

312.1 t/ha was the mean soil carbon stock under agroforestry, the highest among the land uses assessed in Tula-Jana, Doyogena, Ethiopia.

Tadesse et al. (2018)

Tadesse, M., Simane, B., Ambaw, G., Recha, J., Abera, W., Tamene, L., Demeke, G., Mekonnen, K., Radeny, M., & Solomon, D. (2018). Building soil carbon stocks to enhance adaptation and mitigate climate change in climate-smart landscapes, Southern Ethiopia: Preliminary results from climate-smart agriculture practices in Doyogena district. CCAFS Info Note. Documento adjunto suministrado por el usuario.

CSA cropland: 229 t C/ha

229.4 t/ha was the soil carbon stock in cropland under CSA practices, the second-highest value among the land uses assessed.

Tadesse et al. (2018)

Tadesse, M., Simane, B., Ambaw, G., Recha, J., Abera, W., Tamene, L., Demeke, G., Mekonnen, K., Radeny, M., & Solomon, D. (2018). Building soil carbon stocks to enhance adaptation and mitigate climate change in climate-smart landscapes, Southern Ethiopia: Preliminary results from climate-smart agriculture practices in Doyogena district. CCAFS Info Note. Documento adjunto suministrado por el usuario.