Climate change and agriculture: can market governance mechanisms reduce emissions from the food system fairly and effectively?
The agricultural sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for up to 30 per cent of the global total. Agriculture is itself also affected by climate change, with overall impacts predicted to be negative, particularly in poor countries. These are likely to have serious consequences, both for food security and the livelihoods of millions of food producers worldwide. Policymakers are therefore presented with a double challenge: to reduce agricultural emissions, and to help agriculture adapt to a changing climate. This report assesses the policy scope for pursuing these objectives, focusing largely on reducing emissions (mitigation), but also considering policies that can foster adaptation.