A new study shows that carbon sequestration in cropland soil, and emission reduction from agricultural soils are the main mitigation contributions associated with reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The study by the EU CAP Network offers the first quantified estimation of CAP interventions in reducing and removing GHG emissions.
The report focuses on 18 member states, corresponding to 19 CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs). A study covering the EU-27 is planned to be published in the first quarter of 2025.
According to data reported under the EU Governance Regulation, in 2022 the agricultural sector is estimated to have emitted 366 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), accounting for 11% of the estimated EU’s total GHG emissions.
However, significant uncertainties remain on several emission and removal sources and it is not clear how far the implementation of agricultural practices is considered in the national inventories, according to the report.
The analysis from the study shows a potential positive contribution to GHG emission reduction and enhanced removal of 31.2 million tonnes of CO2e per year, distributed between nine million tonnes of GHG emission reduction and 22 million tonnes of enhanced carbon sequestration per year.
The full potential of the contribution will depend on the final uptake of the measures by farmers, according to the study.
It will also depend on whether supported practices will have additional effects every year, and whether the practices were already financed under the previous CAP, which is not possible to assess at this stage.
In addition to mitigation, the study highlights the role of CSPs in protecting carbon stocks in soil and woodlands by maintaining these areas and encouraging their sustainable management.
Head of Unit A.3 – policy performance in DG Agri, Sophie Helaine: ‘’This study represents a first step towards a more refined methodology to estimate the CAP contribution on GHG emission reduction and removals in agriculture.
“In addition, with this study the Commission wants to support member states’ effort to improve the reporting in their national inventories of GHG emissions and removals‘’.
The analysis of the 19 CSPs indicates a potential positive contribution to the protection of existing carbon sinks of 29 million tonnes of CO2e yearly across the EU-18.
The study shows that organic farming maintenance contributes “significantly” to the estimated protection potential, followed by forestry sustainable management and grassland protection.