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Climate Change > Unit 7 - CC Interaction in Agriculture > Flashcards

Unit 7 - CC Interaction in Agriculture Flashcards

1
Q

Main direct contributions of agriculture on CC?

A
  1. N2O emissions from fertilised soils
  2. CH4 from enteric fermentation of cattle
  3. CO2, MH4, N2O from biomass burning
  4. MH4 from rice production
  5. N2O emissions from manure
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2
Q

Main indirect contributions of agriculture on CC?

A
  1. CO2 from production of fertilizers
  2. Other farm operation like tillage, seeding, applications of agrochecmicals, harvesting, etc
  3. change in land use
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3
Q

What are the two main GHG contributors from Agri and in which sectors?

A

N2O and CH4

fertilised soils and cattleenteric fermentation

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4
Q

What are the CO2 and CH4 CO-eq?

A 
CO2 = 25
N2O = 298

(latest IPCC - used to be 296 and 23)

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4
Q

Expected trends in the agri sector and their influence on GHG emissions

A
  1. growth in land productivity (but declining growth) > increased soil erosion and degradation and potential increase CO2 emissions
  2. Soil conservation practises (zero/conservation tillage) > reduce use of energy and increase carbon storage
  3. Increase use of external inputs (fertiliser, pesticides, water etc) and energy
  4. Growing demand for food > land conversion
  5. intensificaion of animal production
  6. policy changes, regional production and demand > increase in trade of agri products > increase CO2 for tansport
  7. increased use of agri products to subsitute fossil fuel based products
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5
Q

what are the main reasons for uncertainties in future predictions of agri emission levels?

A

agri development is shaped by many different aspects:

  • economic development
  • continuous degradation of ecosystem services
  • socioeconomic and cultural differences
  • etc.

there is also large diversity between regions (with varying agroecological conditions) and across different types of (evolving) production systems and different types and scales of farming enterprises.

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6
Q

The biosphysical impact of changes on agriculture

A
  1. changes in agro-climatic conditions
  2. alteration of growing seasons
  3. changes in planting and harvesting calendars
  4. changes in water availability
  5. alteration of evapo-transiration, photosynthesis and biomass production
  6. changes in land suitability
  7. changes in pest, weed and disease populations
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7
Q

what is the carbon dioxide fertilisation effect?

A

CO2 fertilisation: the enhancement of the growth of plants because of an increased athospheric CO2 concentration. Depending on their mechanism of photosynthesis, certain tyes of plants are more sensitive to changes in athmospheric CO2 concentration than others.

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8
Q

CC impacts on livestock production

A

among others:

  • animals are sensitive to heat (heat stress)
  • reliance on pasture quality and productivity - sensitive to drought
  • productivity of rainfed crops and forage (feed)
  • reduced water availability / water shortage
  • change in crop-livestock balance
  • change in livestock species selection (adaptation strategy)
  • (new) livestock diseases and parasites
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9
Q

vulnerability to CC impacts

A

Vulnerability = extent to which people are likely to suffer from or be adversely affected by particular stresses and shocks - CC

depends on:

  • exposure
  • sensitivity
  • resilience

poverty leads to vulnerability which leads to poverty…

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10
Q

What are the two “hunger hotspots?

A

(Lobell et al, 2008)
Southern Africa and Southern Asia
Maize production will decline - can have disastrous effect for these regions.

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11
Q

The 5 strategies for mitigation and their potential on GHG reductions

A

(Scherr and Shtapit, 2009)

  1. enriching soil carbon
  2. creating high-carbon cropping systems
  3. promoting climate friendly livestock production
    • intensive rotational grazing
    • feed supplements to reduce CH4 emissions
    • improved manure management
  4. protecting existing carbon stores in forest and grassland
    • reducing deforestation and land clearing
    • reducing uncontrolled burning of forest and grassland
    • reducing drainage of wetlands
  5. restoring vegetation in degraded areas

Not mentioned by them are:

  1. rice management
  2. biofuels
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12
Q

Define CC mitigation in the context of agriculture

A

Any anthrophogenic intervention that can either reduce sources of GHG emissions (abatement) or enhance carbon sinks (sequestration)

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13
Q

Carbon sequestration has two approaches:

A
  1. restoration of natural vegetation such as the conversion of arable crop land to grassland or forest
  2. sustainable management practices of farmed land, such as yield increase, reduction of soil disturbance, establishment of agroforestry systems and permacultures, and avoiding bare soils.
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14
Q

The soil carbon enriching options

A
  1. catch or cover crops
  2. minimum or zero tillage systems or conservation agriculture
  3. enhancing crop development and crop yield through N fertiliser
  4. increasing use of irrigation
  5. incorporation of biochar (contradicts the zero tillage)
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15
Q

Technical mitigation potential vs economic mitigation potential

A

Technical Mitigation Potential = theoretical amount of emissions that can be reduced and the amount of carbon that can be sequestered given the full application of current technologies, after allowing for extra emissions in implementation

Economic Mitigation Potential = the potential mitigation that will be achieved taking account of the extent to which adoption of mitigation technologies is cmpatible with the economic incentives that farmers require for such adoption (largely determined by the CO2 price).

16
Q

what is mitigative capacity

A

a country’s ability to reduce anthropogenic GHG emissions or to enhance natural sinks, where ability refers to skills, competencies, fitness and proficienncies that a country has attained and depends on technology, institutions, wealth, equity, infrastructure and information. Mitigative capacity is rooted in a country’s SD path.

17
Q

two explicit objectives of the CDM

A
  1. Sustainable Development

2. emission reductions

18
Q

Current eligible agriculture projects under teh CDM are:

A
  1. reducing animal waste or using produced animal waste for energy generation
  2. methane reduction in rice cultivation
  3. EE improvements or switching to less carbon intensive energy sources for water pumps (irrigation) and any other changes in agri practices resulting in the reduction of any category of GHG emissions.
19
Q

Current eligible CDM projects in Land Use (LULUCF

A

above the ground sequestration via reforstation and afforestation

20
Q

Reasons why agriculture is excluded from CDM/ Kyoto

A
  • lack of recognition of the significance of agri GHG emissions and the potential for carbon sequestration
  • incomplete information and understanding on impacts of CC on agri, food security and hunger
  • complexity of agriculture - development of a complex CDM system
  • technical measurement challenges (M&E)
21
Q

the 4 REDD building blocks

A

Scope - tropical forest countries, and within them, based around above & below ground biomass and soil carbon

Reference Level - compare BAU against additional benefits from forest protection

Distribution - consideration of how the benefits will be dsitributed

Financing - many options

22
Q

Downsides of inclusion of agri into REDD+

A
  1. Gov pressure to increase to control shifting cultivation and land expansion into forest areas
  2. threatening livelihoods of agri stakeholders
  3. property rights issues - problems for indigenous people
23
Q

What is adaptation?

A

adjustment in natural or human systems in repsonse to actual or exected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.

Different types:

  • anticipatory or responsive (proactive or reactive)
  • autonomous or planned (often linked to policy)
  • short term or long term (tactical or strategical)
  • natural or human / public or private
24
Q

What is adaptive capacity?

A

the whole of capabilities, resources and institutions of a country or region to implement effective adaptation measures.

25
Q

Two (complementary) approaches of assessments for repsonding to climate change

A
  1. Top-Down
    analysis CC models and predicted biophysical effects, then proposes potential adaptation strategies to counteract.
  2. Bottom-Up / vulnerability assessment approach
    identifies vulnerabilities as local level, considers adaptive strategies, assesses the adaptive capacity and builds on this to develop adaptive management options.
CRISTAL Tool:
Community-based
Risk
Screening 
Tool
Adaptation &
Livelihood
26
Q

what is succesfull adaptation strategies?

A

adaptation options are timely accessible, effective for a range of socioeconomic and agroecological conditions, equitable in terms of benefit distribution and sustainable in environmental and economic terms.

27
Q

Adaptation options

A
  1. crop insurance
  2. crop/livestock diversification
  3. adjust timing of farm operation
  4. change cropping intensity
  5. adjust livestock managament
  6. changes in tillage practices
  7. temporary mitigation for risk diversification
  8. food reserves and storage
  9. changing crop mix
  10. modernisation
  11. permanent migration
  12. define land-use and tenure rights for investments
  13. technology development
  14. develop market efficiency
  15. irrigation and water storage expansion
  16. efficient water use
  17. promoting international trade
  18. improving forecast mechanisms
  19. institutional strengthening and decision making structures
28
Q

Four factors are particularly important in considering the effect of CC on agriculture and food production

A
  1. availability of water
  2. increased atmospheric CO2
  3. temperature changes
  4. Climatic Extremes

(Book Houghton, 2014)

29
Q

What are the two categories of mitigation from Agriculture?

A
  1. On/Off farm emission reductions

2. Carbon sequestration

30
Q

What are some example synergies between adaptation and mitigation strategies?

A

1) conservation tillage practices aims at soil water retention, is a good option to adapt to irregular rainfull patterns and drought AND contributes to soil carbon sequestration.
2) Small scale irrigation improves water management and utilisation and enhances crop development and soil carbon.
3) well managed pasture and rangeland&raquo_space; better with drought AND it can sequester a significant amount of carbon.

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