Fact Check on the Climate Contribution of the Agricultural and Food System

This policy brief presents the most important concepts for quantifying emissions from the agricultural and food system. The starting point is provided by the international treaties in which targets and monitoring systems are established. The legal framework of the EU and the specific implementation elements in Austria are briefly described. The emissions associated with the production of agricultural goods and their development are described in detail. In addition to the emissions associated with production, findings on the consumption-based view are also presented. This also highlights the global emissions caused by Austrian food consumption and the emissions of other sectors. The results show that the production of agricultural goods and foodstuffs consumed in Europe takes up considerable areas on other continents, especially in South America. Topics include concepts, policy objectives and facts from which agricultural and climate policy issues are derived, which will be explored in greater depth in further policy briefs.