Decline in carbon emission intensity of global agriculture has stagnated recently
Zhaohai Bai, Nannan Zhang, Wilfried Winiwarter, Jiafa Luo, Jinfeng Chang, Pete Smith, S.F. Ledgard, Yan Wu, Chaopeng Hong, Giulia Conchedda, Lin Ma
Abstract
Using global data for around 180 countries and territories and 170 food/feed types primarily derived from FAOSTAT, we have systematically analyzed the changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity (GHG i ) (kg CO 2eq per kg protein production) over the past six decades. We found that, with large spatial heterogeneity, emission intensity decreased by nearly two-thirds from 1961 to 2019, predominantly in the earlier years due to agronomic improvement in productivity. However, in the most recent decade, emission intensity has become stagnant, and in a few countries even showed an increase, due to the rapid increase in livestock production and land use changes. The trade of final produced protein between countries has potentially reduced the global GHG i , especially for countries that are net importers with high GHG i , such as many in Africa and South Asia. Overall, a continuous decline of emission intensity in the future relies on countries with higher emission intensity to increase agricultural productivity and minimize land use changes. Countries with lower emission intensity should reduce livestock production and increase the free trade of agricultural products and improve the trade optimality.