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Global carbon emissions from Agriculture, 1990-2020 (Billion Tons)

Global carbon emissions from Agriculture, 1990-2020 (Billion Tons) | HolonIQ
Global carbon emissions from agriculture exceeded 5.8 billion tons in 2020

Global carbon emissions from Agriculture, 1990-2020 (Billion Tons)

Source

WRI; CAIT

Date

30 Jan 2023

Notes

Global carbon emissions from agriculture have increased to alarming levels, reaching 5.8 billion metric tons in 2020. This constitutes a significant portion, accounting for 17% of total global emissions, reflecting the profound impact of our food systems on the environment. The sources of these emissions include livestock and fisheries, crop production, land use, and supply chains. One of the primary drivers behind this increase is the combined effect of growing populations and shifting dietary preferences. As more people populate the planet and adopt more resource-intensive diets, such as those rich in animal products, the demand for agricultural products rises, leading to heightened emissions. Notably, China and India stand out as major contributors, collectively responsible for nearly 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which accounts for 15% of the global agricultural emissions as of 2022. Africa’s contribution to global emissions from agriculture was around 22% in 2019. Being a region with an expanding population, food demand can be expected to grow, necessitating the need to curtail emissions.

License

CC BY 4.0