Agriculture Explainer

Agriculture, here understood in the broad sense under the UNFCCC encompassing food security, crop and livestock production and related land uses, plays a central role in global climate and socio-economic dynamics, providing livelihoods for nearly 2.5 billion people and making a critical contribution to global food security. It is also a key source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 21 to 37% of global emissions, considering agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. At the same time, agriculture is highly exposed to the impacts of climate change and possesses significant mitigation and adaptation potential, particularly through sustainable agricultural practices. It therefore emerges as a strategic sector in climate policy.