Conducting a GHG Assessment in the Primary Sector
The Paris Agreement sets a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Achieving this carbon neutrality will inevitably require a change in the way we consume, travel, and develop. Carbon neutrality will only be achieved if we reduce our emissions overall—and, above all, if we do so collectively. All sectors must be involved.
Reducing emissions means, for example, reducing energy consumption; however, there are many other areas where reductions can be made. To identify these areas, it is first necessary to determine which emissions need to be reduced immediately. A greenhouse gas emissions inventory (GHG inventory) provides a comprehensive assessment of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an organization or a region. It is important to conduct a carbon footprint analysis by sector of activity.
An emissions inventory is not only used to track greenhouse gas emissions; it also helps identify the measures an organization can take to reduce emissions. Combating global warming requires limiting carbon emissions. The GHG inventory is therefore the ideal tool for achieving an energy transition and minimizing its impact on the environment.
The primary sector is also involved when it comes to conducting a GHG assessment!
The primary sector encompasses all activities aimed at exploiting natural resources: agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining, and mineral deposits.
This sector is the first to be affected by global warming and could therefore benefit from reduced emissions, including its own. Agriculture and the agri-food industry are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Stakeholders in the primary sector must make climate change their top priority if they want to continue operating with peace of mind.
Agricultural production can be profoundly affected by extreme weather events, the emergence of new diseases, constraints on water resources, and so on. Everyone can easily take steps to combat these climate changes.
Controlling net greenhouse gas emissions is therefore a key objective in mitigating climate change.
Beyond the environmental benefits—which may not align with the aspirations and priorities of some business leaders— conducting a carbon assessment can help reduce costs and improve economic performance!
In fact, identifying and then reducing sources of GHG emissions will inevitably lead to substantial savings that far exceed the cost of the assessment. So, greater energy efficiency means a lower bill!
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a farm can be achieved by using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. This reduction in emissions could lead to the farm receiving the Low-Carbon Label. Farms that hold this label can obtain carbon credits that can be sold to companies seeking to offset their environmental footprint.
Some carbon emissions cannot be reduced. Therefore, to achieve carbon neutrality, companies engage in carbon offsetting. This involves investing in a sustainable project, such as reforestation or renewable energy development. As a result, it is beneficial for farms to obtain a certification that allows other companies to invest in their project. Conducting a GHG assessment thus provides a strong new selling point for a farm.
Emissions in the primary sector
At the regional level, and particularly in rural areas, the agricultural sector can account for up to a quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of agricultureis not limited to on-farm activities; indirect impacts—such as the production of equipment, fertilizers, and animal feed—are generally significant and must be taken into account.
Agriculture is the second-largest source of emissions in the country. However, it is unique in that it is both a source of emissions and a sink for greenhouse gases through photosynthesis.
However, given its share of global emissions, agriculture is expected to contribute to the overall effort to reduce GHG emissions and to help meet the targets set at the national and international levels. Like other sectors, agriculture must reduce its emissions to contribute to the collective effort to transition to a low-carbon economy.
The National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC), established in 2015, serves as France’s roadmap for implementing its climate change mitigation policy. It aims to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector by half between 1990 and 2050.
Unlike other economic sectors, it does not aim for a complete elimination of GHGs in agriculture, since some of the GHGs produced by the primary sector do not result from energy consumption and therefore cannot be eliminated. This reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would help effectively combat global warming; stakeholders in the primary sector must recognize the necessity of such a project.
To quantify these emissions, it is therefore recommended to conduct a comprehensive GHG inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. The importance of conducting a comprehensive inventory lies in understanding the sources of GHG emissions. The sources with the highest emissions should be the ones where reductions are most needed. Thus, gaining an early understanding of these emissions allows for a smoother, longer-term approach to addressing them. Once the major emission sources have been identified, measures can be implemented to reduce them. Minimizing greenhouse gas emissions benefits our environment. However, this process should no longer be a chore but should be made easy so that as many people as possible can get involved as quickly as possible.
It’s possible to conduct an assessment in the primary sector using the Decarbo’Solution® platform!
The Decarbo’Solution® calculator makes it easy to quickly generate a comprehensive GHG assessment in compliance with regulations. With an optimized, guided online user experience, the Decarbo’Solution® calculator is easy to use. It is also 100% customizable, making it easy to generate an assessment that closely reflects the company’s specific operations— ensuring effective identification of actions to reduce its emissions.
After creating an account, the first step in preparing a GHG inventory is to select the company’s industry. About twenty options are available to help with this choice (manufacturing, services, local government, agri-food, real estate, logistics, events, sports, etc.). The primary sector is, of course, well represented, as are companies in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
The questionnaire selected in this way can be customized by adding or removing questions based on the company’s specific business activities.
It is organized into sections using an intuitive approach and allows for data entry across seven emission categories that cover all regulatory emission items in the GHG Balance Sheet:
- energy,
- other direct emissions other than energy,
- assets,
- travel,
- materials,
- incoming services,
- as well as waste,
- and products sold.
In the case of agriculture, this questionnaire takes into account the type of farming practiced. It considers the type of fertilizer application used as well as land-use management. Quantification helps identify areas for reduction. Reducing a farm’s carbon footprint will require increasing its carbon storage but, above all, reducing its GHG emissions.
To reduce emissions, new agricultural practices must be adopted. For example, favoring organic fertilizers over mineral fertilizers can reduce GHG emissions because the production and transportation of mineral fertilizers require more energy than those of organic fertilizers. This reduction is just one possible approach; certified experts from the Decarbo’Solution® platform specializing in various fields are available to assist each user at every stage of conducting a comprehensive assessment.
Decarbo’Solution® aims to play an active role in reducing global emissions by helping emitting companies minimize their greenhouse gas emissions and, if necessary, offset emissions that cannot be reduced.
On a related note, learn about the carbon footprint of the food industry.