This note collects together useful sources on this question in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan

This note collects together useful sources on this question in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan

• It is generally accepted that the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) need to be sharply reduced. This note considers how agriculture could contribute to this objective. A related note Agriculture and Climate Change (SN/SC/3763) covers the effect of climate change on agriculture. Another note deals with Biofuels (SN/SC/3691). That note covers arguments about how far farmers can help to reduce overall carbon emissions by planting crops that replace petrol or other fuels.

• A report by Stanford University in 2010 concluded that intensive farming contributed to reduction in carbon emissions, because the alternative would be to use much more land at a lower productivity. The researchers found that agricultural advances between 1961 and 2005 spared a portion of land larger than Russia from development and reduced emissions by the equivalent of 590 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide – roughly a third of the total emitted since the start of the Industrial Revolution (Nature, 17 June 2010)

• Some people argue that a vegan diet is necessary to reduce emissions of methane from ruminants. Others argue that changes to feeding practices can achieve considerable reductions.

• In November 2010 the Government announced increased funds for research into measuring the effect of specific agricultural practices on GHG emissions.

• On 29 March 2011, the UK farming industry launched a Greenhouse Gas Action Plan.

• It is generally accepted that the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) need to be sharply reduced. This note considers how agriculture could contribute to this objective. A related note Agriculture and Climate Change (SN/SC/3763) covers the effect of climate change on agriculture. Another note deals with Biofuels (SN/SC/3691). That...

This note looks at the instability in the Middle East and North Africa since the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings.

This note looks at the instability in the Middle East and North Africa since the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings.