5 facts about the impact of land use on climate and what needs to be done now

1. Greenhouse gases are not only produced by factories

In the public mind, carbon dioxide emissions are firmly associated with steel plants, coal-fired power plants, and cars. But this is only partly true: IPCC analysts calculated that from 2007 to 2016, human activity related to agriculture, forestry, and other land use was responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions. For the three main types of these gases, land use accounts for:

• About 13% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

• About 44% of methane (CH4) emissions

• About 82% of nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions

If we include the entire chain of food production and consumption in land use, and not just agriculture as such, the contribution of this type of activity to greenhouse gas emissions is estimated at 21% to 37%.

2. The vicious circle of environmental crisis

The way we use land harms the climate. In turn, climate change forces us to take a different approach to land use, making things worse. For example, a decrease in soil fertility forces us to create new fertilisers, and new agricultural equipment, which squeezes all the juices out of the soil and simultaneously increases the volume of harmful emissions. Modern technologies make the soil degrade a hundred times faster than it can regenerate. If humanity does not break this circle, sliding towards an environmental catastrophe is inevitable.

3. Siberia will not become a resort

Climate change does not mean that it will become warmer and more comfortable to live closer to the poles of the planet. The shift of climate zones away from the equator will change the entire taiga ecosystem, which will lead to more frequent droughts, forest fires, and pest infestations. This is already happening. In addition, since the snow has a high reflectivity, the softening of the climate in the taiga will lead to thinning of the snow cover and additional heating of the soil. Again, this can be expressed in fires and floods. On the plus side: the vegetation period (essentially, spring) will be extended in the taiga, when sharp warming will be delayed by increased evaporation.

4. Should we give up meat

Changing people’s lifestyles is perhaps the main way to prevent an environmental catastrophe, the authors of the report are sure. The food industry, especially rice cultivation and livestock breeding, produces about half of all methane emissions into the atmosphere. Nitrogen fertilisers account for 75% of nitrogen oxide emissions worldwide. This can be overcome by switching to a more balanced diet, increasing the proportion of plants and fruits in the diet, and reducing the amount of meat and dairy products consumed.

5. What needs to be done right now

The disappearance of forests, soil degradation, and desertification are spreading across the planet like an epidemic, and any delay threatens that the next generation of people will have to deal with broader and deeper consequences. IPCC experts suggest the following set of actions that authorities, businesses, and society can begin to take now:

• Introduce risk management standards in land use, in agriculture in particular

• Create information systems with data on the effectiveness, dangers, and side benefits of certain land use methods in certain areas

• Organise educational events on environmental protection

• Be concerned about food security issues in the world in advance, preparing for an artificial change in people’s diets and a partial rejection of meat

• Increase investments in soil conservation and restoration, create relevant programs and funds

• Launch forest restoration projects

• Organise international platforms for knowledge and technology transfer

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