Agriculture plays a major role in contributing to climate change. In 2023, the agricultural sector was responsible for over 14% of total EU net emissions. These emissions must be reduced if the EU is to meet its climate neutrality goal and avoid catastrophic environmental consequences.

While farmers are already facing increasing threats from climate impacts, such as extreme weather, changes in rainfall patterns, and increased risks from pests and diseases, the agri-food sector remains a major source of emissions and environmental degradation, exacerbated by geopolitical and economic vulnerabilities.

Current EU legislation does not provide enough incentives for farmers to lower their agricultural emissions. Overall emissions from the sector have mostly stagnated for the past two decades, and projections show that under business as usual the sector will not achieve the reductions needed to align with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

WWF Policy Recommendations:

Ensure a fair and just transition by designing participatory, territorial-based transition plans that support farmers and rural communities with tailored financial, technical, and accessible social measures.
Reform counter-productive EU legislations such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) bioenergy rules.
Fully implement and enforce the Nature Restoration Regulation and the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation (LULUCF).
Improve carbon removals governance by ensuring that carbon farming and carbon removal credits meet strict environmental standards and are never used to offset emissions in compliance markets such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS).
Set ambitious agriculture emissions targets: Introduce a binding, standalone 1.5°C-compatible gross reduction target for agricultural non-CO2 emissions and introduce carbon pricing to operationalise the polluter pays principle.
Promote a reduction in demand for animal products and incentivise healthy and sustainable diets: Launch EU-wide actions to reduce meat and dairy consumption and increase consumption of low-impact plant-based proteins (e.g., wholegrains, beans, and local nuts), including fiscal measures, food labelling, and public procurement reforms.