Agriculture and forestry in the EU’s 2030 climate target

The European Union (EU) committed itself to the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990. This target is economy-wide, and agriculture and forestry will have to play their part. This chapter shows how productive sectors are included within the EU’s commitment for 2030, taking into account the complexity of the associated greenhouse gas cycles. It explores how the future Common Agricultural Policy can support the EU’s climate and energy objectives. The cycles related to agriculture and forestry covering both non-carbon dioxide (CO₂) and CO₂ emissions are more complex than those in many other sectors. Agriculture can make a significant contribution to climate mitigation. It can reduce non-CO₂ emissions, for example in the livestock sector or in fertilisers and fuels use, and it can make an additional contribution by increasing carbon storage and sequestration. The agriculture and forestry sectors represent a growing area of attention for climate policy in Europe and around the world.