Food production emissions would push world past 1.5C - report

Some 75% of the food-related heating was driven by foods that are high sources of methane — those coming from ruminant livestock such as cattle, and rice paddy fields. File picture: Larry Cummins

Agriculture's impact on the climate is in the spotlight again after a new study found that emissions from the food system alone will drive the world past 1.5C of global heating unless high-methane foods are tackled.

Climate-heating emissions from food production, dominated by meat, dairy, and rice, will by themselves break the dreaded international milestone of 1.5C of warming if left unchecked, the study found.