Description

The state can help to control climate risks and air pollution swiftly by operating targeted support programmes for its country’s citizens, businesses and agricultural and forestry sectors. These programmes provide financial support for those farmers who, for example, optimise their use of nitrogen fertilisers in terms of quantities, localised application and timing, or reduce livestock ammonia and methane emissions by using adapted feed and husbandry techniques. Support can also be provided for farmers who reduce nitrous oxide emissions from arable land and increase carbon capture by improving the humus content in the soil. In addition, preserving or extending grassland (e.g. fallow land) can help reduce CO2 emissions. Participation by farmers in the support programmes is voluntary. The conservation effect on the soil is monitored.

Agricultural measures to protect the climate and air quality must be embedded in an adapted agri-environmental policy and the country’s overall agricultural policy development strategy.

Requirements

• A properly functioning country-wide administration and monitoring system with access to the relevant information and sufficient technical and human capacities for its design, implementation and monitoring
• Clear responsibilities in public authorities
• Country-wide monitoring of natural resources and their quality (e. g. water, soil, forests, air, grassland)
• Clear and coherent political strategy and targets for policy-makers and public authorities
• Good knowledge of good agricultural practices
• Regulated and legally protected payment structures
• Monitoring and control system for the agricultural production processes supported
• Regular neutral inspections on farms and in agri-food enterprises
• Regulatory framework
• Sanction mechanisms

Possible Negative Effects

• Corruption and personal gain
• Country-wide implementation and monitoring of measures to protect the climate and air quality could overstretch public authorities