Thumbnail Image

The share of agri-food systems in total greenhouse gas emissions

Global, regional and country trends 1990–2019













FAO. 2021. The share of food systems in total greenhouse gas emissions. Global, regional and country trends 1990–2019. FAOSTAT Analytical Brief Series No. 31. Rome.


Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    Corporate general interest
    Greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood systems
    Global, regional and country trends, 2000–2022
    2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    Agrifood systems account for about one-third of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. They are generated within the farm gate, from crop and livestock production activities; by land-use change, caused by deforestation, biomass fires and peatland degradation processes often linked to land clearance for agriculture; and in pre- and post-production processes, comprising the supply chain including food manufacturing, retail, household consumption and food disposal. According to the latest data, global agrifood systems emissions reached 16.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO2eq) in 2022, virtually unchanged from 2021, and representing an increase of 10 percent since 2000.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    Corporate general interest
    Greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood systems
    Global, regional and country trends, 2000–2020
    2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    Agrifood systems account for one-third of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. They are generated in various ways: within the farm gate, through crop and livestock production; through land-use change; and in pre- and post-production processes, including food manufacturing, retail, household consumption and food disposal. According to the latest data, global agrifood systems emissions reached 16 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO2eq) in 2020, an increase of 9 percent since 2000.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    Corporate general interest
    Greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood systems
    Global, regional and country trends, 2001–2023
    2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    Agrifood systems account for about one-third of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They are generated within the farm gate, from crop and livestock production activities; by land use change, caused by deforestation, biomass fires and peatland degradation processes often linked to land clearance for agriculture; and in pre- and post-production processes, comprising the supply chain including food manufacturing, retail, household consumption and food disposal. Statistics on the underlying activity data, emissions and indicators (shares of total economy, per capita emissions and emissions intensities) are disseminated in FAOSTAT at the country, regional and global levels, covering over 200 countries and territories, for the period 1961–2023, together with a comprehensive summary of emissions from the rest of the economy. Data are provided by single component gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases (F-gases) – as well as in carbon dioxide equivalents. This analysis focuses on the period 2001–2023.Global agrifood systems emissions reached 16.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, up 21 percent since 2001. Their share in total emissions fell from 38 to 32 percent in 2023.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Food wastage footprint & Climate Change 2015
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    The 2011 FAO assessment of global food losses and waste estimated that each year, one-third of all food produced in the world for human consumption never reached the consumer’s table. This not only means a missed opportunity for the economy and food security, but also a waste of all the natural resources used for growing, processing, packaging, transporting and marketing food. Through an extensive literature search, the 2011 assessment of food wastage volumes gathered weight ratios of food losse s and waste for different regions of the world, different commodity groups and different steps of the supply chain. These ratios were applied to regional food mass flows of FAO’s Food Balance Sheets for the year 2007. Food wastage arises at all stages of the food supply chains for a variety of reasons that are very much dependent on the local conditions within each country. At a global level, a pattern is clearly visible; in high income regions, volumes of wasted food are higher in the processin g, distribution and consumption stages, whereas in low-income countries, food losses occur in the production and postharvesting phases.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 (SOFIA)
    Meeting the sustainable development goals
    2018
    The 2018 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture emphasizes the sector’s role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and measurement of progress towards these goals. It notes the particular contributions of inland and small-scale fisheries, and highlights the importance of rights-based governance for equitable and inclusive development. As in past editions, the publication begins with a global analysis of trends in fisheries and aquaculture production, stocks, processing and use, trade and consumption, based on the latest official statistics, along with a review of the status of the world’s fishing fleets and human engagement and governance in the sector. Topics explored in Parts 2 to 4 include aquatic biodiversity; the ecosystem approach to fisheries and to aquaculture; climate change impacts and responses; the sector’s contribution to food security and human nutrition; and issues related to international trade, consumer protection and sustainable value chains. Global developments in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, selected ocean pollution concerns and FAO’s efforts to improve capture fishery data are also discussed. The issue concludes with the outlook for the sector, including projections to 2030. As always, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date information to a wide audience, including policy-makers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed all those interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    The future of food and agriculture - Trends and challenges 2017
    Also available in:
    No results found.

    What will be needed to realize the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition? After shedding light on the nature of the challenges that agriculture and food systems are facing now and throughout the 21st century, the study provides insights into what is at stake and what needs to be done. “Business as usual” is not an option. Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies, and natural resources management are necessary. The present study was undertaken for the quadrennial review of FAO’s strategic framework and for the preparation of the Organization Medium-Term plan 2018-2021.