09/03/2011

French Farming resource La France Agricole reported Tuesday (8^th March) on the European Commission’s adoption of a roadmap indicating the trajectory Europeans must follow in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% compared to their 1990 levels before 2050. 

The EC say this goal should be achieved solely through internal measures. If this is the case, the Commission says “all use of [international] emission credits will contribute to a reduction in emissions of over 80%” as a consequence. In order to achieve the objective internally before 2050, emissions must be reduced by 40% by 2030 and by 60% in 2040.

The roadmap states that all sectors will have to contribute to the dramatic reduction. In terms of the agricultural sector, which French publication La France Agricole says has already cut emissions by 20% between 1990 and 2005, the goal is to reduce emissions by a further 43-49% within the next 40 years, with a 36-37% reduction by 2030. However, reductions exceeding this may be limited by growing demand for food to feed an increasing world population.

The proposed paths to reduce the agricultural sector’s carbon footprint are more efficient use of fertilisers, an increase in livestock productivity, carbon capture in soil and the implementation of renewable energies.

Furthermore, if more efficient distribution of electrical power develops, the demand for biofuels could be limited to a static 10% of energy sources, which would contribute towards achieving goals in place for 2020, if not the Commission fears demand for biofuels could increase which would lead to accrued pressure on soil fertility and available land.