Climate Change Mitigation - Climate Resilient Agriculture for Ensuring Food Security - page 269

Climate change mitigation encompasses the
actions being taken, and those that have been pro-
posed, to limit the magnitude and/or rate of long-
term global warming-induced climate change.
Climate change mitigation generally involves
reductions in human (anthropogenic) emissions
of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and also by increas-
ing the capacity of carbon sinks, e.g., through
reforestation. Mitigation is defi ned as all human
interventions which reduce the sources of green-
house gases or which embrace the sinks of green-
house gases (UNDP 2008 ).
There are two ways by which agricultural pro-
duction can contribute to mitigate climate change
that are in line with the “food security fi rst”
objective. The fi rst way is to improve effi ciency
by decoupling production growth from emissions
growth. This involves reducing emissions per
kilogram of food output (included in this calcula-
tion are the effects of emissions from reduced
deforestation per kilogram of food). The second
way is to enhance soil carbon sinks. The IPCC
estimates the global technical mitigation poten-
tial from agriculture could reach the equivalent of
5,500-6,000 t of CO 2 per year by 2030 (IPCC
2007b ). This is grossly equivalent to three quar-
ters of the sector's emissions in 2030 (around
8,200 t of CO 2 ). About 70 % of this identifi ed
potential lies in developing countries, 20 % in
OECD countries, and 10 % for EIT countries.
About 89 % of this potential could be achieved
through soil carbon (C) sequestration. Mitigation
of CH 4 can provide 9 % (through improvements
in rice management and livestock/manure man-
agement), and mitigation of N 2 O can provide 2 %
(primarily through cropland management). IPCC
estimates that nine-tenths of the global mitigation
potential of agriculture is linked not to reduction
of agricultural GHG (mainly CH 4 and N 2 O) emis-
sions but to managing land carbon stocks. This
involves enhanced soil carbon sequestration,
reduced tillage, improved grazing management,
restoration of organic soils, and restoration of
degraded lands.
Reducing emissions per kilogram of a given
output might well be, for food security and
agriculture, one of the main targets. A potential
reduction equivalent to 770 t of CO 2 per year by

2030 has been identifi ed from the reduction of
fossil fuel use through improved on-farm energy
effi ciency (IPCC 2007b ). In addition, there are
potential reductions through improved effi ciency
in food chains, including a reduction of posthar-
vest losses. These indirect gains include reduced
emissions from deforestation (not accounted in
IPCC's calculations of the 90 %) as less land is
necessary to produce the same amount of food.
Indirect gains also include reduced emissions
from the production of fertilizer or energy inputs
used on the farm.
The more we learn about greenhouse gases
and climate change, the more we understand that
each of us can help reduce emissions. The good
news is that many practices that will help farmers
achieve their goals of improved productivity such
as improved livestock nutrition and reduced
water use also reduce GHG emissions.
Agriculture is well-positioned to make a
difference. Properly managed, healthy soils may
act as a “sink” to remove GHG emissions from
the atmosphere. Natural areas found on many
farm properties such as wetlands, woodlots,
pastures, and buffers can also trap GHGs.
Increasingly there are viable opportunities for
on-farm green energy generation, such as the
production of biogas. Agricultural operations can
participate in reducing atmospheric GHGs by
adopting processes or activities that:
• Reduce the amount of GHGs released into the
atmosphere (GHG sources)
• Remove GHGs from the atmosphere by stor-
ing them in soils (e.g., by growing perennial
tallgrass crops) or removing them (GHG
sinks)
The magnitude of the challenge to stabilize
GHG concentrations in the atmosphere and limit
average temperature increases makes it impera-
tive that the contributions of all sectors with
signifi cant mitigation potential be tapped to the
fullest extent possible. Agriculture is recognized
as a sector with such potential, and farmers,
ranchers, herders, and other land users around the
world can and should be part of the solution to
climate change.
In the IPCC's fourth assessment report, Smith
et al. ( 2007 ) distinguish seven broad sets of