Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU)

TLDR

Agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) uniquely mitigates greenhouse gases through both enhanced removals and emission reductions, while also supplying food, fibre, livelihoods, and essential ecosystem services that support human well‑being. Mitigation options in AFOLU must be evaluated for their impacts on all other land‑provided services. See Section 11.1 for further details.

Abstract

Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) is unique among the sectors considered in this volume, since the mitigation potential is derived from both an enhancement of removals of greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as reduction of emissions through management of land and livestock (robust evidence; high agreement). The land provides food that feeds the Earth’s human population of ca. 7 billion, fibre for a variety of purposes, livelihoods for billions of people worldwide, and is a critical resource for sustainable development in many regions. Agriculture is frequently central to the livelihoods of many social groups, especially in developing countries where it often accounts for a significant share of production. In addition to food and fibre, the land provides a multitude of ecosystem services; climate change mitigation is just one of many that are vital to human well-being (robust evidence; high agreement). Mitigation options in the AFOLU sector, therefore, need to be assessed, as far as possible, for their potential impact on all other services provided by land. [Section 11.1]