A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published last Thursday (8/8), studies the connection between land use and its effects on climate change. The document highlights how unhealthy soils and forests exacerbate climate change. The IPCC's conclusions are the result of two years of work by 103 experts from 52 countries, who voluntarily participated in the study.

The report, discussed with governments in early August in Geneva, Switzerland, was approved by consensus by all countries participating in the IPCC.point out that, if global warming exceeds the 2° Celsius limit established by the Paris Agreement, fertile lands will likely turn into deserts, infrastructure will collapse, and extreme weather events will put the food system at risk.

The authors emphasize that the report's recommendations can help governments prevent the worst damage, reducing pressure on land and making food systems more sustainable, while meeting the needs of a growing population.

“My hope is that this report will have some impact on how we think about land in the context of climate change and on policies that will promote sustainable land management and sustainable food systems,” said Alisher Mirzabaev, co-author of the IPCC report.

Soils and forests are allies against climate change 

Soils and forests act as carbon sinks, natural reservoirs that prevent CO2 from reaching the atmosphere. Barron Joseph Orr, chief scientist at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, points out that unsustainable management turns them into the opposite: major contributors to climate change.

Of the world's land area not covered by ice, approximately 70% is already being used for food production, textiles, and fuel. Ecosystems such as prairies—vast, open plains devoid of trees and shrubs, with abundant low-lying grass—are crucial to a stable climate, yet they are often overlooked.

These areas act as large carbon sinks. They also allow livestock to graze without cutting down trees. The tendency to use these lands for crops means a greater release of CO2 into the atmosphere.

"While much attention is paid to forests, savannas and grasslands are a landscape we must urgently address," said João Campari, global food practice leader at WWF International. "More than 50% of conversion to fruit production occurs in grasslands and savannas."

Peatlands, for example, a type of wetland that covers only 3% of the Earth's surface, are another important carbon sink, but they account for up to 5% of annual global CO2 emissions. About 15% of known peatlands have already been destroyed or degraded.

Impact of the food system

The report shows how our food system contributes to climate change and is also affected by its consequences. It predicts that if crop yields decline due to climate change, food prices will rise proportionally. Global cereal prices could increase by up to 29% by 2050, the IPCC report states.

The increasing occurrence of extreme weather events threatens to disrupt food chains, generating food losses that drive higher prices. One-third of all food produced annually is already lost or wasted. Food waste—from the energy used to produce food to the food that rots in landfills—accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers point out that higher CO2 concentrations affect food quality and reduce its nutritional value. They also warn that this could contribute to global food security. An estimated 821 million people suffer from hunger and that 1.5 billion lack essential micronutrients in their diet, such as iron or zinc.

A resilient food system is needed 

The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development- CEBDS launched one publication about the Resilient Food Workshop, held in June. The meeting brought together stakeholders from various links in the country's food chain. The workshop is part of the Agroclimatic Intelligence (IAC), which aims to increase food availability by 50%, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50%.

The agribusiness chain is currently the largest emitter of GHGs, while also being the activity most susceptible to climate change. Ana Carolina Szklo, Director of Technical Development at CEBDS, warns that climate change poses an unprecedented challenge, especially for a sector so closely linked to climate change.

“Today, 40% of the land used in the world is used for agribusiness. This is equivalent to 30% of global emissions and 70% of water consumption. We urgently need to make the chain more resilient. Our future depends on the ability to create food systems to guarantee the nutrition of the population”, he states.

Understanding the chain's impact is one way to make it more resilient. "The climate change process involves a major discussion about access to information. Armed with data, consumers will be able to make more sustainable choices," says Juliana Lopes, sustainability director at Amaggi.