Agriculture and Climate Change

• Draft Report

Ajiro Ndi, AN017, 2024

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• global warming is a consequence of greenhouse gas emissions
• heat from the sun is trapped as gases build up in the atmosphere
• emissions have increased by 40% since 1990
• over 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas are emitted each year
• emissions come from a range of industry sectors and processes
• agriculture is a major contributor of greenhouse gases

Ajiro Ndi, AN017, 2024

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Industry sources

• the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions is electricity and heat production - responsible for 37% worldwide
• agriculture is the second largest cause - responsible for 22% of global emissions
• 10 countries produce more than 68% of emissions

Ajiro Ndi, AN017, 2024

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Consequences of global warming

• increased frequency of extreme weather events including:
• torrential rains
• floods
• heatwaves
• droughts
• storms
• average temperatures predicted to rise by 1.5ºC by 2050
• global sea levels rise as glaciers retreat and ice sheets melt
• more land at risk of coastal flooding

Ajiro Ndi, AN017, 2024

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Effects on agriculture

• higher CO₂ levels affect crop yields and nutritional value
• extreme temperatures can prevent crops from growing
• torrential rains, floods and droughts can harm crops and reduce yields
• rising sea levels may result in loss of agricultural land
• increased migration of invasive pests that damage crops
• global crop yields could decline by up to 30% by 2050

Ajiro Ndi, AN017, 2024

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Challenges ahead

• greenhouse gases now far exceed safe levels
• extreme weather events will impact crop production
• natural resources need to be protected
• more resilient crop varieties are needed
• protecting carbon sinks is essential for keeping the climate stable
• food insecurity set to become a global issue
• the world will need to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed an estimated 9 billion people

Ajiro Ndi, AN017, 2024

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