The World Bank has unveiled a groundbreaking report highlighting that altering farming practices globally could slash greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering one-third by 2030.
The agrifood industry is responsible for almost a third of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, with two-thirds of these emissions coming from middle-income countries, which occupy seven of the top ten spots for greenhouse gas emitters globally.
\"To protect our planet, we need to transform the way we produce and consume food,\" said Axel van Trotsenburg, the Bank's Senior Managing Director, in the report's forward. He emphasized the urgent need for countries to invest more in sustainable agricultural practices.
The report outlines several actionable steps for middle-income countries, including adopting low-emissions livestock practices and making more sustainable use of land. \"Simply changing how middle-income countries use land, such as forests and ecosystems, for food production can cut agrifood emissions by a third by 2030,\" van Trotsenburg added.
To finance this shift to less-emitting methods, the World Bank suggests that countries consider reducing wasteful agricultural subsidies. High-income countries, including the United States—the world's fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter—are encouraged to provide technical assistance and shift subsidies away from high-emitting food sources.
Meanwhile, low-income countries are advised to avoid building the high-emissions infrastructure that high-income countries must now replace. By taking these comprehensive steps, the agrifood sector has a significant opportunity to contribute to global climate goals.
Reference(s):
Changing farming practices could cut one third of global emissions
cgtn.com
