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(TJV) John Kerry, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, delivered a warning on Wednesday, emphasizing that addressing the agriculture sector’s emissions is essential to combat climate change.
Speaking at the Department of Agriculture’s AIM for Climate Summit, Kerry expressed concern that agriculture production alone is responsible for a significant 33% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. He stressed the importance of reducing these emissions, making agriculture a key component of the solution to fight global warming.
During his keynote address, Kerry highlighted the lack of awareness about agriculture’s significant contribution to global emissions. He asserted that achieving net-zero emissions and successfully addressing climate change hinges on giving prominence to agriculture in the solution. He also pointed to the concept of “climate smart agriculture” as a potential way forward.
Kerry further emphasized that the food systems themselves contribute a substantial amount of emissions through current practices. As the global population surpasses 8 billion, emissions from the food system alone are projected to cause an additional half-degree of warming by mid-century.
He stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that “lives depend” on leaders and scientists developing effective tools to reduce agriculture emissions.
According to a study published in the Nature Food journal in March 2021, the global food system, including land-use change, agricultural production, packaging, and waste management, is responsible for about 18 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to 34% of the world’s total emissions.
In the United States, agriculture alone accounts for approximately 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to federal data.
Kerry called for innovation in the agriculture sector, particularly considering the record malnutrition rates amid the impacts of the climate crisis. He labeled the situation as a “climate crisis” rather than a mere “climate change.”
He emphasized the need for economic, social, and policy innovation to scale up the adoption of technical solutions and make them accessible to small farmers worldwide.
Critics and oppostion resesrchers berlieve the entire push to reduce “carbon” is junk science ,claiming current levels of 420ppm (0.042% of the atmosphere), CO2 is critically too low; at under 250ppm all life on earth ceases to exist.
Other more beyond the pale critics believe the recent claims of agriculture causing “climate change” is part of a “depopulation agenda”
Meanwhile it is worth noting John Kerry’s daughter who has been promoted to unelected position of specual envoy to the WHO for “climate change and help”.
