Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Knowledge and Positions of German Farmers

Kerstin Jantke,Benjamin Blanz,Martina J Hartmann,Livia Rasche,Uwe A Schneider

doi:10.3390/land9050130

Abstract

Climate mitigation targets must involve the agricultural sector, which contributes 10%–14% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To evaluate options for implementing mitigation measures in the agricultural sector, farmers’ knowledge, positions, and attitudes towards agricultural GHG emissions, their accounting, and reduction need to be understood. Using an online survey, we asked 254 German farmers about their motivation to reduce GHG emissions and their acceptance of possible regulation schemes. We examined differences between relevant farming sectors, i.e., conventional versus organic and livestock keeping versus crop-cultivating farms. Results show that German farmers are aware of climatic changes and feel a general commitment to reducing GHG emissions but lack sufficient information. We identified agricultural magazines as the most effective tool for disseminating relevant knowledge. German farmers would feel motivated to adopt climate-friendly farming styles if products were labeled accordingly and if they received subsidies and public acknowledgment for their effort. As long as there is no regulation of agricultural GHGs through taxes or subsidies, personal motivation is yet the strongest motivation for voluntary emission reduction. Our findings are timely for the further development of strategies and instruments that reduce agricultural GHG emission and account for the farmers’ views. The dataset is available for further investigations.

Highlights

Climate change is a serious threat to agriculture and to food security
We evaluate German farmers’ knowledge, positions, and attitudes towards agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, their accounting, and reduction options
The second section consisted of multiple-choice statements where respondents were asked to express their opinion on climate change and its relevance to the agricultural sector and to provide information about their activities related to GHG emissions and their mitigation

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is a serious threat to agriculture and to food security. Farmers are aware of the climatic changes [8,9,10,11,12,13], and opportunities for implementing mitigation measures in the agricultural sector are being investigated [14,15,16,17,18]. Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is the most important driver of human-induced climate change. Agricultural activities contribute 10%–14% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions [19,20], mostly from enteric fermentation (methane), application of synthetic fertilizers (nitrous oxide), and tillage (carbon dioxide) [2]. According to modeled emission pathways [21], global reductions of agricultural methane emissions until 2030 of up to 48% relative to 2010 and of nitrous oxide emissions by up to 26% are required to limit global warming to 1.5 ◦ C

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion