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Land Use Change Related GHG Emissions Embodied in Commodity Production and Trade 2020

Abstract

This report aimed, in a very short, time-limited study, to scope out whether reliable figures are available on the percentage of global GHG emissions that would be reduced per year if the UK, Europe or the world shifted towards consumption of palm oil, beef and soy that did not lead to conversion of natural habitats during production.

Whilst accurate estimates for these exact scenarios were not found in the literature, the report did find that if the world shifted to conversion-free production of all agricultural commodities, 9–14% of global GHG emissions would be reduced per year. If the world shifted to conversion-free beef, 25% of global forest loss per year would be prevented (2.2 Mha per year). For palm oil, this figure would be 4.5% (0.4 Mha per year). For soy, a further 4.5% of global forest loss would be prevented. It is estimated that Europe consumed 0.732 Mha of embodied deforestation in 2004 (10% of global embodied deforestation) and that the UK imported 31 kha per year of embodied deforestation between 2010–2013.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2020·07·23

Citation
Harris, M., Hassall, I., Donovan, D., Way, L. & Wilkinson, S. 2020. Land Use Change Related GHG Emissions Embodied in Commodity Production and Trade. JNCC Report No. 658, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
This report aims to investigate the feasibility of measuring GHG emissions attributed to agricultural commodity consumption across a variety of scales and production systems.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2020·07·28

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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