Document 3:13 (2024−2025) / Published Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
Although the agricultural sector is expected to make significant emission reductions by 2030, there are no indications that this target is achievable. There are major conflicts between the targets, and the climate agreement between the central government and the agricultural sector is unrealistic.
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The document is in Norwegian
Brief background
The agricultural sector is one of the few sectors with a sector-specific target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This ambition is expressed in the Letter of Intent between the agricultural sector and the Government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration from agriculture for the period 2021–2030, which was signed in 2019.
The aim of the agreement is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration from agriculture by a total of 5 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents over the period 2021–2030.
Overall assessment
It is unsatisfactory that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s climate governance is characterised by a lack of a clear strategy, unclear responsibilities and insufficient alignment between the ambitions set for 2030 and the follow-up that takes place in the form of the development and implementation of effective policy instruments.
Although greenhouse gas reduction has gained increased attention, including in the agricultural negotiations, there are no indications that the reduction target set by the climate agreement for emissions from the agricultural sector will be achieved by 2030.
It has taken longer than expected to realise various emission-reducing measures, and the expected effects of some measures have also been downgraded. This contributes to undermining the feasibility of the targets set by the climate agreement.
Conclusions
- There are no indications that significant emission reductions from the agricultural sector will be achievable by 2030.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has failed to take sufficient accountability for meeting the targets of the climate agreement.
- The current policy instruments and measures are insufficient to realise the targets adopted by the Storting regarding lower emission intensity.
- Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector by promoting consumption changes aligned with the dietary guidelines are marked by inadequate allocation of responsibility and slow progress.
- To date, the reduction in food waste has not been sufficient, and the Storting has repeatedly called for stronger policy instruments.
Recommendations
We recommend that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
- prepare a climate strategy for the sector that specifies how to achieve the climate targets and clarifies important choices that must be made if emissions from the agricultural sector are to be reduced in accordance with the ambitions of the climate agreement with the agricultural sector;
- strengthen efforts to develop and implement appropriate policy instruments and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the farm level within Part A of the climate agreement with the agricultural sector;
- prepare a schedule for the work to reduce food waste that ensures a high pace, both in the revision of the industry-wide agreement and in the work on Regulations related to the Food Waste Act;
- critically assesses the feasibility of expected climate effects of measures, especially measures that are at the development stage, and ensure that the uncertainty associated with the effects of the various measures is highlighted to the extent possible, including in the Government’s climate status and plan;
- ensure a better basis for targeted governance based on realistic plans if there is a renegotiation of the climate agreement with the agricultural organisations, as announced by the Government in its Climate Action Plan.
We also recommend that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and the Ministry of Health and Care Services clarify the level of ambition, policy instruments and responsibilities between the government ministries in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector through changes in consumption aligned with the dietary guidelines.