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Defining national net zero goals is critical for food and land use policy

Environmental Studies and Forestry

Defining national net zero goals is critical for food and land use policy

G. Bishop, C. Duffy, et al.

Inconsistent definitions of national net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets are stalling effective land use and food policies. This investigation by George Bishop, Colm Duffy, Rémi Prudhomme, Annette Cowie, Cathal O'Donoghue, Michelle Cain, Gary J. Lanigan, and David Styles delves into 3000 scenarios of Irish agriculture, revealing that significant land transformation is essential for achieving measurable success in emission targets.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Inconsistent definitions of national net-zero (NZ) greenhouse gas emission targets hinder effective land use and food policy. This study analyzes 3000 randomized scenarios of Irish agricultural production and land use combinations using ten NZ definitions, revealing a 1–85% success rate depending on the definition. Common actions across definitions include afforestation, organic soil rewetting, and cattle destocking. Ambitious emission abatement moderates, but doesn't replace, these actions. Achieving NZ requires significant land sector transformation in Ireland, necessitating a vision for future land use that supports a sustainable food system and circular bioeconomy. International consensus on methane emission accounting in NZ targets is urgently needed.
Publisher
Communications Earth & Environment
Published On
Feb 28, 2024
Authors
George Bishop, Colm Duffy, Rémi Prudhomme, Annette Cowie, Cathal O'Donoghue, Michelle Cain, Gary J. Lanigan, David Styles
Tags
net-zero
greenhouse gas emissions
agricultural production
land use
sustainable food system
afforestation
methane emissions

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