Cost-Effective Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Agriculture of Aragon, Spain

Abstract

Climate change represents a serious threat to life in earth. Agriculture releases significant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), but also offers low-cost opportunities to mitigate GHG emissions. This paper assesses agricultural GHG emissions in Aragon, one important and representative region for agriculture in Spain. The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) approach is used to analyze the abatement potential and cost-efficiency of mitigation measures under several scenarios, with and without taking into account the interaction among measures and their transaction costs. The assessment identifies the environmental and economic outcomes of different combinations of measures, including crop, livestock and forest measures. Some of these measures are win-win, with pollution abatement at negative costs to farmers. Moreover, we develop future mitigation scenarios for agriculture toward the year 2050. Results highlight the trade-offs and synergies between the economic and environmental outcomes of mitigation measures. The biophysical processes underlying mitigation efforts are assessed taking into account the significant effects of interactions between measures. Interactions reduce the abatement potential and worsen the cost-efficiency of measures. The inclusion of transaction costs provides a better ranking of measures and a more accurate estimation of implementation costs. The scenario analysis shows how the combinations of measures could reduce emissions by up to 75% and promote sustainable agriculture in the future.

Water quality management could halve future water scarcity cost-effectively in the Pearl River Basin

“…Manure recycling to cropland is an effective measure for drastically reducing coastal eutrophication 18 and improving soil quality 24 – 26 . Reducing the use of synthetic fertilizer is also highlighted as a cost-effective measure to reduce nitrate concentration in the Ebro basin, improving both water and atmosphere qualities at negative costs 27 , 28 . These win-win management options may encourage farmers’ endorsement and could be the focus of future more detailed follow-up research.…”

Bamboo for biomass energy production

“…However, improper management of agriculture activity can induce harmful impacts on the environment. Excessive agriculture activity can emit high amounts of greenhouse gases that can lead to climate change (Baccour et al 2021). The agriculture industry was reported to contribute about 13.5% of greenhouse gas emissions globally (Mohammed et al 2020).…”

GHGs Emission from the Agricultural Sector within EU-28: A Multivariate Analysis Approach

“…In view of this, Piwowar et al [24] stress the importance of raising the awareness of farmers about LCE practice in rural areas of Poland. In Spain, Baccour et al [25] suggested that a combination of measures could help reduce GHG emissions from the agricultural sector by 75%. Interestingly, Bajan et al [20] proved that the usage of renewable energy in food production is approaching the expected strategic goals within V4 countries (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland), resulting in some of the successes recorded in the reduction in GHG emissions from the agricultural sector in some EU countries .…”