We Should Focus on Food Consumption to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture

Achieving the transition to a sustainable global food and agricultural system will require a shift in the pattern of production and consumption from commodities that generate substantial emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to those that generate fewer such emissions. It is challenging to internalise the social costs of emissions by focusing on production in agriculture primarily due to the difficulty of measuring emissions from individual farms. By using carbon taxes at the consumer level and non-price inducements to change consumer preferences, such as carbon labelling, significant progress can be made in transforming the food and agricultural system to a low-emissions system in rich and middle-income countries. Potential regressive effects of higher food prices can be addressed through income transfers and targeted food assistance programmes. A consumption-based approach reduces the likelihood of international trade conflicts, since imports and domestic production are treated equally. Measures can be taken to offset any incentive to shift from supplying domestic markets to exporting. To make the transition to a more climate-friendly food and agricultural system, important supporting measures will also be needed to develop new technologies and practices to reduce emissions per unit of output and to induce beneficial changes in land use.