Country Notes on Climate Change Aspects in Agriculture

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Ecuador, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Like most countries in Latin America, Ecuador has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Land use change and forestry are the largest contributors to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential of the agricultural sector (including land use change and forestry) is significant and not yet sufficiently explored in the country. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to weather variability. Sustainable water management and climate-sensitive insurance coverage for agricultural production can reduce some of the observed vulnerabilities in the country.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Argentina, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Argentina is one of the four developing countries in the world to have submitted two national communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), indicating strong commitment by the government for addressing climate change issues across sectors. Agriculture (including land use change and forestry) is the largest contributor to green house gas (GHG) emissions in the country, while contributing less than six percent of Gross Domestic product (GDP), and it represents fifty-five percent of the country's export base (including processed agricultural goods). The emission reduction potential of the agricultural sector (including land use change and forestry) is significant and not yet sufficiently explored in the country. Argentina currently counts with only one Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the agricultural sector. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate variability. The extension and improvement of both irrigation infrastructure and climate-sensitive insurance coverage for agricultural production can reduce some of the observed vulnerabilities in the country.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Honduras, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Like most countries in Latin America, Honduras has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Land use change and forestry are by far the largest contributors to green house gas (GHG) emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential of the sector is large, but not sufficiently explored. Honduras counts with the largest number of registered CDM projects in Central America, 15 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, of which three are in the agricultural sector. It is estimated that Central America produces less than 0.5 percent of global carbon emissions, but it is one the most vulnerable regions to climate change related impacts on the planet. In 2004, the United Nations identified Honduras among the first 20 most vulnerable countries in the world in terms of vulnerability to floods and the most vulnerable to hurricanes. Honduras was also identified as the most vulnerable country in Central America by the British society Maplecroft in their study titled 'vulnerability index to climate change.' Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate variability and weather extremes, this coupled with problems of land degradation in the country. A greater emphasis on reducing soil degradation, reforestation and developing and applying adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Nicaragua, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Like most countries in Latin America, Nicaragua has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Land use change and forestry are by far the largest contributors to green house gas (GHG) emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential of the sector is large, but not sufficiently explored. Nicaragua counts with only three Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, none of which are in the agricultural sector. It is estimated that Central America produces less than 0.5 percent of global carbon emissions, but it is one the most vulnerable regions to climate change related impacts on the planet. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate variability and weather extremes, this coupled with problems of land degradation in the country. A greater emphasis on reducing soil degradation, reforestation and developing and applying adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Uruguay, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Uruguay is one of the four developing countries in the World to have submitted two national communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), indicating strong commitment by the government for addressing climate change across sectors. Agriculture (including land use change and forestry) is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the country and it is also one of the most important sectors in the economy, representing 65 percent of the county's export sources. Significant steps have been made in reforestation and carbon sequestration in the country, reducing the net effect of the sector on total GHG emissions. Given that the emissions reduction potential of the sector is large, carbon trading opportunities have not yet been explored in the country. Reducing vulnerability to climate change and, in particular, to seasonal variability and variations in precipitation is of increasing importance in the agricultural sector (and, particular, for water management), coupled with more sustainable land management practices and production decisions.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Chile, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Like most countries in Latin America, Chile has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Agriculture contributes little, in relative terms, to total green house gas (GHG) emissions and the mitigation potential in the sector is mainly related to afforestation and the sustainable management of native forests. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to weather extremes, in particular in the central parts of the country, where water scarcity is an issue. Desertification and soil erosion are some of the other major problems facing the country, though measures for reducing erosion are yielding positive results. A greater emphasis on developing and applying adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Panama, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Like most countries in Latin America, Panama has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Land use change and forestry are by far the largest contributors to green house gas (GHG) emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential of the sector is large, but not sufficiently explored. Panama counts with only five Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, none of which are in the agricultural sector. It is estimated that Central America produces less than 0.5 percent of global carbon emissions, but it is one the most vulnerable regions to climate change related impacts on the planet. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate variability and weather extremes, this coupled with problems of land degradation in the country. A greater emphasis on reducing soil degradation, reforestation and developing and applying adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Paraguay, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Like most countries in Latin America, Paraguay has submitted one national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a second one under preparation. Land use change and forestry are the largest contributors to green house gas (GHG) emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential is large and several reforestation programs have been initiated. Paraguay is among the few countries in Latin America without a single Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, and carbon trading opportunities can be explored. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate variability, this coupled with problems of land degradation in the country. A greater emphasis on developing and applying adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Haiti, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. Haiti has submitted its National Adaptation Plan of Action to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Land use change and forestry are the largest contributors to green house gas (GHG) emissions in the country. The emission reduction potential is large and unexplored. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, this coupled with problems of severe land degradation and poverty in the country. A greater emphasis on developing and applying adequate insurance mechanisms can be placed for better management of public resources in light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector.

2009-12, World Bank

This country note briefly summarizes information relevant to both climate change and agriculture in Brazil, with focus on policy developments (including action plans and programs) and institutional make-up. In Brazil, the 5th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, agriculture (including land use change and forestry) is the largest contributor to green house gas (GHG) emissions. The emission reduction potential of the agricultural sector (including land use change and forestry) is significant and not yet sufficiently explored. Brazil currently counts with 30 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the agricultural sector (targeting only methane emission reductions and biomass generation), while there are no registered CDM projects in the country under the 'afforestation and reforestation' category. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate variability, particularly in the Brazilian semi-arid Northeast where droughts have had a significant impact on crop yields and people's livelihood. The extension and improvement of both irrigation infrastructure and climate-sensitive insurance coverage for agricultural production, as well as addressing the problems of severe land degradation, can reduce some of the observed vulnerabilities in the country. Reducing poverty and inequality in rural areas, and particularly in those areas already vulnerable to climate risk, can also contribute to minimizing the negative impacts of future weather variability.