Total greenhouse gas emissions including land-use change and forestry

Definition

To the extent possible, this indicator includes emissions from all greenhouse gases and major emission sources for each country. Data sources cover CO2 emissions from energy, cement manufacture, and non-CO2 gases. For a given country, as many as five greenhouse gas data sources may be used (including sector-level data).

Relevance

Greenhouse gas emissions are the main contributor of climate change, and are thus an important indicator of a food system's contribution to climate change. In addition, greenhouse gases from transforming land (clearing, burning, or otherwise removing existing vegetation) for agricultural use are a large source of food system greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is associated with increased land surface temperature, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other changes to the environment. These changes may impact the quality, quantity, and safety of our food supply.