The Earth’s climate has always undergone periodic changes that have affected the conditions available to life on the planet. Yet recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the highest in history and atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. Europe wide GHG emission levels have, however, decreased since 1990, although there has been a slowing in the rate of reduction in the last decade and there have even been some increases in emission levels from agriculture in recent years.

The aim of this report is to examine the significance of the commitments made to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement for the agricultural sector.