Last week saw the publication of another climate change report. This time it was from the IPCC and focused on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems.

Agricultural emissions are a key part of the climate change effect where agricultural food production and yield patterns are in the front line of the overall impact of climate change.

The report, like many IPCC reports, is strong on calling the impact of increasing emissions while also highlighting the overlapping challenge of feeding a growing population.

Moreover, as with last year’s IPCC report, while there are strong recommendations in terms of action there are numerous warnings that a one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate given the diversity in climate experiences and in agricultural production systems.

Irish view

From an Irish perspective, there are a number of key takeaways. In policy terms, the report recommends an approach to the promotion of sustainable development that is in line with Ireland’s climate action policy. It states that “co-ordination of policy instruments across scales, levels, and sectors advances co-benefits, manages land and climate risks, advances food security and addresses equity concerns”.

It also notes that sustainability certification, technology transfer, land use standards and secure land tenure schemes, integrated with early action and preparedness advance response options.

While the report promotes the notion of lower meat consumption and production, it also emphasises the diversity in production systems including intensive grassland

It concludes that sustainable land management improves with investment in agricultural research, environmental farm practices, agri-environmental payments, financial support for sustainable agricultural water infrastructure (including dugouts) and agriculture emission trading.

Again, while the report promotes the notion of lower meat consumption and production, it also emphasises the diversity in production systems including intensive grassland. This chimes with the 2018 IPCC report which stated that there was greater variation in climate impact between meat production systems (with Irish style grassland being the lowest v feedlot/deforestation based production) in carbon intensity in comparisons with plant-based system emissions.

A sink and a sequester

So to be very clear, this IPCC report, like previous reports, does not unequivocally or directly say Irish beef production must be reduced or abandoned. Indeed permanent grassland as both a carbon sink and a sequester of carbon is recognised and prioritised to maintain global abatement levels.

The report is weak in two key areas: food prices and leakage effects. The reality of the last 20 years is that dominant retailers and discounters set food prices and food price inflation has been negative.

The direct experience of the last 10 years is that the food retailing business does not reward increased quality standards or compliance

Yet, the report stresses the importance of markets in terms of giving upward (and downward) price signals that drive out carbon costs and inefficiencies. The direct experience of the last 10 years is that the food retailing business does not reward increased quality standards or compliance.

The other weakness in the report is a wish that leakage issues, ie loss of production in carbon-efficient locations to non-compliant non-regulated regions should be incorporated in multilateral trade rules.

As we know from the recent Mercosur deal, this is wishful thinking and as long as this remains the case global emissions will increase where compliant countries implement more regulation or taxes.