Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector in Canada: A Regional Perspective *
2001; Volume: 24; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1925-2218
AutoresSuren Kulshreshtha, Bruce Junkins, Ray Desjardins,
Tópico(s)Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
ResumoAbstracts: Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector in Canada: A Regional Perspective. The agriculture and agri-food sector (AAFS) is a major contributor to total Canadian greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 15 % of total. In agriculture, emissions of methane and nitrous oxide constitute more than two-thirds of total. In this study, homogeneity of various Canadian regions for contributions made by AAFS to greenhouse gas emissions is examined. Results suggest that almost two-thirds of total Canadian greenhouse gas emissions from farm level activities are produced in Prairies. Different strategies with potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture were examined. Ontario is estimated to have largest relative potential for reducing emissions from primary agriculture. However, some gaps in meeting commitments made under Kyoto Protocol may remain in almost all provinces. This study also suggests that development of mitigation strategies would, by necessity, have to be designed at local (regional) level rather than at national level. Consideration of spillover effects of strategies on off-farm economic activities should also be an important consideration in final selection of mitigation measures for agriculture. ********** Pour l'agriculture, des emissions de methane et d'oxyde nitreuse constituent plus des deux-tiers du total. Dans cette etude, l'homogeneite de differentes regions canadiennes est analysee quant a la contribution du SAAA aux emissions de gaz a effet de serre. Les resultats suggerent que presque les deux tiers du total des emissions de gaz a effet de serre produites par des activites a l'echelle de l'exploitation agricole au Canada proviennent des Prairies. Des strategies differentes pour reduire les emissions de gaz a effet de serre furent analysees. La province qui semble avoir le plus grand potentiel relatif pour reduire les emissions provenant de l'agriculture meme est l'Ontario. Toutefois, certains ecarts quant a l'atteinte des engagements pris selon le Protocole de Kyoto semblent rester dans presque toutes les provinces. Cette etude suggere egalement que l'elaboration de strategies de mitigation doivent, par necessite, etre concues a l'echelle locale (regionale) plutot qu'a l'echelle nationale. Tenir compte aussi des effets secondaires de ces strategies sur les activites economiques hors ferme devrait etre une consideration importante dans le choix final de mesures de mitigation pour l'agriculture. The World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), in its pioneering report on world affairs, brought to attention of global society damage mankind has done to environment, and through that to future sustainabilicy of socio-economic systems all over world. Through complex interactions between environment and economic systems, anthropogenic activities have limited capacity of ecosystem to sustain economic and social activities at levels presently enjoyed by masses of people. This message was re-confirmed by first and second assessments of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which pointed out that the balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate (Houghton et al 1996). In 1992, 176 countries met in Rio de Janeiro to review global change and related issues. At this juncture, some 111 countries, including Canada, signed Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). A good description of activities envisaged under Agreement are described by Mintzer and Leonard (1994); its major thrust was for various countries to develop (and maintain) an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, along with an attempt to search for mitigative strategies to curb harmful effect of these gases. For Canada, this inventory has been reported by Environment Canada (see Jaques et al 1997). …
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