{"id":23226,"date":"2024-03-04T11:18:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T09:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnisostenibili.it\/?p=23226"},"modified":"2024-03-04T11:18:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T09:18:00","slug":"emissions-in-italy-agriculture-and-livestock-virtuous-sectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnisostenibili.it\/en\/emissions-in-italy-agriculture-and-livestock-virtuous-sectors\/","title":{"rendered":"Emissions in Italy: agriculture and livestock virtuous sectors"},"content":{"rendered":"

The energy and transport sectors must be made more efficient to reduce Italy’s emissions. Agriculture and livestock farming are good examples.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A few weeks have passed since <\/span><\/span><\/span>COP 28<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, where for the first time at a COP, there was talk of moving <\/span><\/span><\/span>beyond fossil fuels<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, but without the term “exit” and a roadmap. The phrase that everyone agreed on was “<\/span><\/span><\/span>transitioning away<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>“, which still allowed an agreement to be reached.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While at the global level, we are working <\/span><\/span><\/span>towards COP 29<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> at the end of 2024, at the local level, it is important to ask about <\/span><\/span><\/span>GHG emissions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>: how are the Italian targets being pursued? The <\/span><\/span><\/span>ISPRA report<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> gives an answer to this question every year – <\/span><\/span><\/span>published in April 2023<\/span><\/span><\/a> – which focuses on “<\/span><\/span><\/span>Greenhouse gas emissions in Italy<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>: reduction targets and future emission scenarios”. The document highlights an increase in emissions in the post-pandemic period. However, <\/span><\/span><\/span>the agricultural sector remains one of the smallest sectors<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT IS ISPRA? AND HOW ARE CO<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2082<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> EMISSIONS CALCULATED?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Having mentioned the organisation, let us first explain who <\/span><\/span><\/span>ISPRA<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> is. The acronym stands for “Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale” (<\/span><\/span><\/span>Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>), which, together with <\/span><\/span><\/span>ARPA<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (regional) and <\/span><\/span><\/span>APPA<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (provincial), is part of the National System for Environmental Protection (<\/span><\/span><\/span>SNPA<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>). How are greenhouse gas emissions calculated?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

GHG emissions are largely due to <\/span><\/span><\/span>carbon dioxide (CO<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2082<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> emissions, which, as far as human activities are concerned, are <\/span><\/span><\/span>mainly linked to the use of fossil fuels<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. They are calculated using the <\/span><\/span><\/span>IPCC methodology<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> and expressed in tonnes of <\/span><\/span><\/span>CO<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2082<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> equivalent<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, using each compound’s <\/span><\/span><\/span>Global Warming Potential (GWP100) <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>coefficients.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The other GHG considered, such as <\/span><\/span><\/span>methane<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (CH4), <\/span><\/span><\/span>nitrous oxide<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (N2O) and <\/span><\/span><\/span>F-gases<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> or fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6, NF3), are then <\/span><\/span><\/span>converted into CO2 equivalents. The often-used acronym kt stands for thousands of tonnes (<\/span><\/span>es <\/span><\/span><\/span>kt CO2 equivalent<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NEW GPW* METRICS AND GAS PERSISTENCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

On <\/span><\/span><\/span>GWP* (GWP Star)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, it is worth noting the work of a team of researchers from the <\/span><\/span><\/span>University of Sassari<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> who have recalculated the emissions of the Italian livestock sector using a new metric proposed by a group of atmospheric physicists from Oxford and published in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Nature<\/span><\/span><\/a>. The team of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Italian researchers<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> applied this <\/span><\/span><\/span>new metric to the methane emissions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the Italian livestock supply chains and compared the results with those previously obtained using the old metric.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The results are surprising<\/span><\/span><\/a>: on the one hand, a <\/span><\/span><\/span>significant reduction in emissions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> and, on the other, a <\/span><\/span><\/span>negative environmental footprint<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. In other words, if we look at the cumulative total contribution of Italian livestock production to global warming over the <\/span><\/span><\/span>last ten years<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (methane and nitrous oxide emissions), <\/span><\/span><\/span>the application of the new metrics reduces it to the point of becoming negative<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>: from +206 million tonnes of CO<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2082<\/span><\/span><\/span> equivalent calculated using the old method (GWP) to <\/span><\/span><\/span>– 49 million tonnes estimated using the new metrics (GWP*).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

AFTER THE PANDEMIC, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS HAVE RISEN AGAIN, AND THE SCENARIOS FOR 2030 ARE NOT PROMISING. LET’S SEE THE MOST IMPACTING SECTORS<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

The data reported by ISPRA last April showed that in Italy, after the setback caused by the pandemic, <\/span><\/span><\/span>GHG emissions have increased again in 2021<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. In just one year (2020-2021), the values show a sharp increase (+8.5%), a sign of a new start. Compared to 1990, there is an overall decrease of -20 %, mainly due to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>growth in renewable energy production<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (hydroelectric and wind-powered) in recent years, energy efficiency in the industrial sector, and the switch to less carbon-intensive fuels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, this 30-year data is not good news, as the report shows emissions are 11 million tonnes above the target set for 2021, and <\/span><\/span><\/span>the 2030 scenarios are not promising<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. The report predicts <\/span><\/span><\/span>low emission reductions in the transport and heating <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>sectors and a deviation from the effort-sharing targets, which could exceed 15 million tonnes in 2030.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Global Footprint Network’s annual <\/span><\/span><\/span>Overshoot Day<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> data, humanity would need 1.7 Earths to meet its current resource demands. In contrast, <\/span><\/span><\/span>if everyone lived like the Italians, it would need almost 3<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. The 2024 data is expected to confirm the growing trend.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR A KEY PLAYER IN THE GREEN TRANSITION<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

As the <\/span><\/span><\/span>CIA Italian Farmers <\/span><\/span>recalled on the last World Environment Day, “<\/span><\/span><\/span>Agriculture today accounts for only 7% of the total emissions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> produced and released into the environment. A commitment to sustainability has been underway in Italy for some time: the use of <\/span><\/span><\/span>chemical pesticides<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> has been greatly reduced; biological surfaces and agro energies are growing; <\/span><\/span><\/span>water consumption is significantly reduced<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> thanks to <\/span><\/span><\/span>precision irrigation<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>; the maintenance and care of green areas, both rural and urban, is increasing”. As the prestigious Italian Farmers’ Association points out, “<\/span><\/span><\/span>agriculture is well on the way to achieving the green transition<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span>but more resources and appropriate tools are needed<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, focusing on innovation, research, new genetic and digital technologies”.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

AGRICULTURE REMAINED BROADLY STABLE IN TERMS OF KT CO2 EQUIVALENT.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

In contrast to other sectors, <\/span><\/span><\/span>the agricultural sector, including livestock, has not experienced any particular increase in emissions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. The percentage distribution of greenhouse gas emissions shows that <\/span><\/span><\/span>agriculture and fish farming account for less than 8% of total GHG emissions (7.8%)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, and livestock in particular for about 6% (domestic ruminants account for about 5%).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the agricultural sector, greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by -13.2% since 1990<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (<\/span><\/span><\/span>Table 3.5 of the report<\/span><\/span>), mainly due to reductions in livestock numbers, land area and agricultural production, reductions in the use of <\/span><\/span><\/span>synthetic fertilisers<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> and changes in <\/span><\/span><\/span>manure management<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> practices.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As recalled in an <\/span><\/span><\/span>article by the web magazine Ruminantia <\/span><\/span>commenting on the report, Italian farms should be seen in the context of the overall work of <\/span><\/span><\/span>farms<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, where the presence of <\/span><\/span><\/span>trees<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, permanent <\/span><\/span><\/span>grassland<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> and annual crops usually represents a significant <\/span><\/span><\/span>carbon removal<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> from the atmosphere.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at the figures in more detail, <\/span><\/span><\/span>the main agricultural emissions are CH4 and N2O<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, which account for 64.9% and 33.7% of the total, respectively. The decrease in emissions observed between 1990 and 2021 (-13.2%) is mainly due to the decrease in CH4 emissions from <\/span><\/span><\/span>enteric fermentation<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (-14.2%) and the decrease in N2O emissions from <\/span><\/span><\/span>agricultural soils<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (-7.8%).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For land use, <\/span><\/span><\/span>land use change<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, and forestry, total removals in CO<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2082<\/span><\/span><\/span> equivalent increased significantly between 1990 and 2021; <\/span><\/span><\/span>CO<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2082<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> accounts for almost all emissions and removals in this sector <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>(95.2%).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: WHICH SECTORS CONTRIBUTE MOST<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

The ISPRA report of April 2023 confirmed that <\/span><\/span><\/span>about half of the national GHG emissions come from energy production and transport<\/b><\/span><\/span>. However, the energy sector shows a reduction of 21.8% between 1990 and 2021 due to the decrease in emissions from the energy, <\/span><\/span><\/span>manufacturing and construction industries<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (37.2% and 41.5% in 2021). Also compared to 1990 (the year taken as a parameter to record the results of commitments to reduce greenhouse gases), <\/span><\/span><\/span>emissions from the energy sector fell by 37% in 2021<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, while the production of thermoelectric energy increases (from 178.6 terawatt hours – TWh – to 189.7 TWh) and <\/span><\/span><\/span>electricity consumption<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> increases (from 218.7 TWh to 300.9 TWh).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The transport sector is a major contributor to national GHG emissions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. After a decrease in 2020, in 2021, the sector is in line with previous years and contributes <\/span><\/span><\/span>24.7% of the national total<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>, with road transport being the main source of emissions (93% of the transport sector).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ESTIMATES FOR 2022 ARE STILL RISING, BUT ITALY HAS MET ITS TARGETS IN RECENT YEARS<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

The report even goes so far as to theorise the estimates for 2022 (the calculations of which will be available in 2024). Overall, <\/span><\/span><\/span>emissions are expected to increase slightly compared to 2021<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (+0.1%), while GDP is expected to grow by 1.7%. The estimated trend is due to <\/span><\/span><\/span>increased emissions from the transport sector<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (+5.5%) <\/span><\/span><\/span>and energy production<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> (+9.6%), while <\/span><\/span><\/span>other sectors are expected to show significant emission reductions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ISPRA notes that <\/span><\/span><\/span>Italy is on track to meet its reduction targets for 2013-2020<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>. However, this result is not only due to the policies and measures adopted but also to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>different cycles of the economic crisis<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> linked to the dynamics of the global economy. All data and scenarios of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Italian emissions inventory<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> are <\/span><\/span><\/span>available at this link<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The energy and transport sectors must be made more efficient to reduce Italy’s emissions. Agriculture and livestock farming are good examples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":23227,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[677],"tags":[5828,5831,5829,5832,5833,5834,5835,5836,5830],"class_list":["post-23226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment-sustainability-en","tag-agroenergy","tag-cop-28-en","tag-emissions-from-intensive-farming","tag-global-footprint-network-en","tag-global-warming-potential-en","tag-gwp-en","tag-gwp100-en","tag-ispra-en","tag-new-gpw-metrics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t