EU ministers face up to the challenge of climate change for agriculture
UK - Sustainable agriculture and land use can play a significant role in addressing climate change and still provide the economic and social benefits rural areas need, Margaret Beckett said on Sunday.
13 September 2005
4 minute read
Mrs Beckett was speaking at the first combined meeting of the EU Agriculture and Environment Councils, which discussed the relationship between climate change and agriculture.
Mrs Beckett, who chaired the meeting, said:
"Climate change is the most serious and longterm challenge we face and agriculture is the second largest source of UK greenhouse gases, seven percent of the UK's emissions. The UK government is determined to keep action to tackle climate change high on the international agenda. This is why we have made climate change a key priority for our presidencies of both the G8 and the EU this year.
"Land managers control some 42 percent of the land area of the EU and their role is vital as we strive for sustainability. Climate change will create new challenges for land managers but may also bring opportunities for the creation of new rural enterprises
"Farmers can help to address the drastic impacts of climate change, for example through water management to reduce the risks of flooding. The agricultural sector also needs to consider how it can contribute to reducing its own direct emissions of greenhouse gases, for instance through energy crop production and changing their management practices for fertiliser and manure application."
Ministers heard presentations from seven leading international experts. Key messages from speakers included:
the impacts of climate change on Europe's farming and food industries may be less than the impact on the rest of the world
nevertheless, southern and central Europe are likely to face great challenges in terms of water shortage, and heat stress.
there is a need to maintain flexibility in policy making so that land managers are able to respond to uncertainties which climate change will bring
an integrated approach to policies and messages addressed to land managers is vital so that in solving one problem we do not inadvertently create others. This applies at national as well as at international level
agriculture, like other modern industries, needs to embrace the concept of resource efficiency to the full and to its advantage
innovation needs to be encouraged so that land managers can seize opportunities related to climate change mitigation and adaptation
Key facts and figures:
UK agriculture contributes seven percent of all UK greenhouse gas emissions.
But UK agriculture emits 67 percent of nitrous oxide and 46 percent of methane.
There has been an overall decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from UK agriculture of 14 percent since 1990.
Nitrous oxide from UK agriculture has declined 15 percent since 1990.
Methane from UK agriculture has declined 12 percent since 1990.
Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from the EU-25 in 2003 were 476 Mt CO2-equivalent, a 14 percent decline on 1990
Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from the EU-15 in 2003 were 414 Mt CO2-equivalent, a 10 percent decline on 1990.
