UN report highlights impact of land use activities on global warming

GENEVA: The United Nations ‘Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’ have published a report reviewing global land use activities. The report is prepared by 108 scientists and is one of a series coming from the UN which aims to drive global climate change to a greater extent. Negotiators from 195 countries discussed and deliberated upon the report, which exceeded  1000 pages, and finalised it after marathon talks.    

Land used for activities including agriculture and lumber added significantly to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere between 2007 and 2016, according a report by United Nations ‘Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’. The report was released on August 8. The group also identified the draining of wetlands and the loss of natural forest as significant factors.

Decreasing crop yield can lead to a scarcity of food, more land being turned into deserts and less plant diversity, according to the report. It argues that less food waste and changes in diet can mean less need to convert land from its natural state.

“There are many ecosystems throughout the world where we are already seeing the impacts of climate change and land use change, and it emphasises the need for urgent action,” said Jo House, one of the authors of the report and a professor at the University of Bristol, in a conference call with reporters.

“There is a chance to take action”, the authors said. “Cutting down or eliminating the consumption of meat, which would reduce the need to clear land for large cattle ranches, and eating more grains and vegetables will help.”