IPCC special report on climate change and land

The report finds that human activities affect over two-thirds of the global ice-free land surface. The global food system is estimated to produce 21-37% of human greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change has already affected food systems and land-based ecosystems and is worsening desertification and land degradation in some areas.

Some land-based options for responding to climate change can contribute to both adaptation and mitigation, including improved forest management, soil organic carbon management, restoration and conservation of ecosystems, and reducing food loss and waste. 

Options such as increasing agricultural productivity, changing diets and reducing food waste could potentially lead to lower conversion of land to farmland, freeing up land to be used for other climate mitigation options. Other options such as afforestation and bioenergy could use large areas of land.

The report estimates that changes in crop and livestock production and agroforestry could together mitigate 2.3-9.6 GtCO₂ eq. yr^-1 by 2050, while dietary changes (including plant-based foods such as legumes and nuts as well as animal-sourced food from low-emissions systems) could mitigate 0.7-8 GtCO₂ eq. yr^-1 by 2050.

The report finds that rapid emissions reductions across all sectors can lead to lower impacts of climate change on ecosystems and food production. Delaying emissions cuts, however, would lead to worse impacts, with “irreversible impacts on some ecosystems” in some high-emissions scenarios.

Below is a selection of media coverage and reactions:

• Carbon Brief: In-depth Q&A: The IPCC’s special report on climate change and land
• The Guardian: Climate crisis reducing land’s ability to sustain humanity, says IPCC 
• Eating Better: Diversification of diets key to reducing risks from climate change say IPCC
• The Economist: Gloom from the climate-change front line
• New York Times: Opinion: Farmers Don’t Need to Read the Science. We Are Living It
• Channel 4 News interview with Stuart Roberts of the National Farmers Union, writer and activist George Monbiot, and climate researcher Professor Corinne Le Quéré: George Monbiot: ‘Beef is like a loaded gun, pointed at the living world’
• Policy brief by Feedback in response to the IPCC report: Demanding action - Why food policy must deliver sustainable diets, shorter supply chains and prevent food waste (PDF link)

Read the full report, IPCC Special Report on Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security, and Greenhouse gas fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems, here. Download the summary for policymakers here (PDF link). See also the Foodsource building block What is land use and land use change?