Summary
This IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land synthesises the scientific evidence on the interplay between land use, food systems, and climate change across mitigation, adaptation, and food security dimensions. It finds that agriculture, forestry, and other land use account for approximately 23% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, while also being among the sectors most vulnerable to climate-related disruption. The report identifies sustainable land management, reduction of food loss and waste, and shifts toward plant-rich diets as key response options with significant co-benefits for biodiversity, soil health, and human nutrition.
UK applicability
While global in scope, the report's findings are directly relevant to UK land use and agricultural policy, informing frameworks such as the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes in England and the UK's statutory net-zero commitments under the Climate Change Act; UK-specific land use emissions and food waste targets align closely with the report's recommended response options.
Key measures
Share of anthropogenic GHG emissions from agriculture and land use (~23%); food loss and waste estimates; land degradation extent; mitigation potential of land-based options (GtCO2eq/yr); food security risk indices under climate scenarios
Outcomes reported
The report assessed the relationship between land use, agriculture, and climate change, including GHG emissions from land systems, impacts on food security, and the mitigation and adaptation potential of sustainable land management practices. It also evaluated the contributions of dietary change and food waste reduction to emissions abatement.
Topic tags
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