Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Agricultural Sector

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Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Agricultural Sector

August 20, 2010 By Schuyler Null

“Climate Change and China’s Agricultural Sector: An Overview of Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation” from the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) explores mitigation and adaptation strategies to avoid the worst effects of climate change in China’s farming sector. The authors, Jinxia Wang, Jikun Huang and Scott Rozelle, point out that, although often overlooked in favor of the industrial sector, a disproportionate amount (greater than 15 percent) of China’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. Challenges include over-fertilization, high methane levels, water pollution, and water scarcity. Wang, Huan, and Rozelle predict that trade “can and should be used to help China mitigate the impacts of climate change” and programs promoting better calibration of fertilizer dosages and “conservation tilling” practices will help farmers reduce emissions.

Also from ICTSD comes another study on climate adaptation and mitigation, this time focusing on the developing world. Globally, agriculture accounts for only 4 percent of GDP but according to the IPCC it also accounts for more than 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, making climate adaptation and mitigation in the sector particularly important. “Agricultural Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Developing Countries: Policy Options for Innovation and Technology Diffusion” by Travis Lybbert and Daniel Sumner examines some of the more promising innovations that may help those countries most vulnerable to climate change to cope with and minimize risk. The authors suggest that most policies that target economic development and poverty reduction will also naturally lead to improvements in agriculture, accordingly most of their recommendations center around improving market efficiency, communication of technologies and best practices, and investment in research and development.

Topics: Africa, agriculture, China, climate change, food security, Reading Radar
- Chloe Flores
  
  The topic of climate change on agriculture does not get the attention it should, especially with China. Another problem I remember reading about last year was the trash in China. There are literally mountains of trash, can anything be done to mitigate this? Should we be most concerned with this problem before beginning to tackle the larger issues involving agriculture?
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/10648727700659999180 Schuyler Null
  
  I don't know much about the trash/pollution situation in particular (other than it's bad), but as with other PHE issues, improving agricultural practices has a broad range of positive side effects. I don't think China, or anything other country for that matter, can afford to pick just one area or another to focus on at this point – a broad, integrated approach encompassing multiple fields is what's needed.
- Chloe Flores
  
  Good point about an integrated approach. As far as the agricultural practices go, does anyone know of anything being done? Is it research of methods, or more of an infrastructure problem?
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/10648727700659999180 Schuyler Null
  
  I think it's both, but considering China's vast rural tier, probably more on the infrastructure and capacity building side of things for them.
  
  Ag research is also important to keep pushing as well though (not just in China, but here too – go land grant colleges!). The Green Revolution saw an enormous increase in crop yields that has helped keep food prices down over the last couple decades, but since then, growth in the ag sector has slowed considerably. Many have said that without a second Green Revolution (and we need R&D; for that), we could face serious issues feeding all these mouths.
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/18337694112852162181 Geoff Dabelko
  
  Watch these pages for the forthcoming write-up of the Sept 2nd meeting at the Wilson Center with NYU's Alex Evans (also blogger on Global Dashboard). Alex makes a compelling case for integrated analysis of the ag/food security issue (where he highlights the decline in productivity increases) but also connects it to water, energy, population trends etc. Very compelling work.
- Chloe Flores
  
  Does anyone think there will be a decisive point involving this problem with agriculture and a growing population? Or possibly lead to conflict is a solution is not implemented in a timely manner?
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/10648727700659999180 Schuyler Null
  
  It's tough to say there will be a single decisive point Chloe, but there was certainly low-level conflict as the result of the food price spike in 2008 and some deaths from riots this summer. For more in the context of some of this summer's food security concerns, Global Dashboard's Alex Evans has a good run down on some of the issues.

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