"Nature food" publishes an article on the contribution of methane to agricultural emissions and climate change.
Title: Short- and long-term warming effects of methane may affect the cost-effectiveness of mitigation policies and benefits of low-meat diets
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00385-8
Year: 2021
Authors: Pérez-Domínguez, I; Del Prado, A; Mittenzwei, K; Hristov, J; Frank, S; Tabeau, A; Witzke, P; Havlík, P; van Meijl, H; Lynch, J; Stehfest, E; Pardo, G; Barreiro-Hurle, J; Koopman, JFL; Sanz-Sánchez, MJ
Journal: Nature food
Abstract: Methane’s short atmospheric life has important implications for the design of global climate change mitigation policies in agriculture. Three different agricultural economic models are used to explore how short- and long-term warming effects of methane can affect the cost-effectiveness of mitigation policies and dietary transitions. Results show that the choice of a particular metric for methane’s warming potential is key to determine optimal mitigation options, with metrics based on shorter-term impacts leading to greater overall emission reduction. Also, the promotion of low-meat diets is more effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to carbon pricing when mitigation policies are based on metrics that reflect methane’s long-term behaviour. A combination of stringent mitigation measures and dietary changes could achieve substantial emission reduction levels, helping reverse the contribution of agriculture to global warming.
