The NFU has joined 32 of the world’s leading farming organizations in calling on countries to adopt a gas-fragmented approach to reporting their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, arguing that current methods distort the true impact of agriculture on global warming.
The joint statement, signed by 33 organizations from 14 countries, calls on governments to follow the latest science and distinguish between short-lived gases such as methane and long-lived gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide when reporting emissions.
The move comes ahead of COP30 climate change talks in Brazil and reflects what the NFU described as an “unprecedented global consensus” among farming organizations.
The NFU said split gas systems would increase transparency and lead to more informed policy-making, allowing farmers to better understand and reduce their emissions.
“Calculating greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is not easy, but our members are committed to reducing emissions,” said NFU President Tom Bradshaw.
“A gas splitting approach that distinguishes between short-lived gases like methane and long-lived gases like carbon dioxide will give producers a clearer picture of their emissions, enabling better targeted mitigation and science-based policy making.”
The current system, known as GWP100, converts all greenhouse gases into a single carbon dioxide equivalent. The coalition argues that this “single basket” approach obscures the very different warming behavior of the gases.
The letter warns that GWP100 “creates ambiguity by obscuring the warming impacts of different gases”. While GWP100 works well for long-lived gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, it “does not accurately represent the warming impact of short-lived GHGs such as biogenic methane.”
The signatories argue that long-lived gases need to reach net zero, while short-lived gases like methane only need to decline gradually to have a similar stabilizing effect on global temperatures.
“This fundamental difference in behavior needs to be recognized in climate policy, and adopting a gas split approach is the most effective way to do so,” the statement said.
According to the NFU, split gas reporting will also pave the way for warming-based metrics, allowing for a clearer understanding of how emissions trends impact temperature changes over time.
The NFU’s call follows previous support from climate scientists and international research organizations. Agricultural leaders argue that recognizing the distinct properties of biogenic methane will allow them to set more science-based and fair climate goals for food-producing agriculture while managing significant carbon sinks through grasslands and soils.
The letter also points out that the split-gas framework does not limit the ambitions of policymakers, stating: “The split-gas approach allows for ambitious mitigation approaches for both long-lived and short-lived greenhouse gases. Instead, it focuses policy on the warming impacts of greenhouse gases and therefore on the warming impacts across sectors.”
But some environmentalists warn that changes to the accounting system should not be used as an excuse to slow down deeper emissions cuts across the economy.
The NFU recently updated its position on emissions reporting, encouraging both governments and the food industry to adopt dual accounting, using GWP100 for consistency and incorporating warming-based indicators for transparency.
Mr Bradshaw said farmers were already working to reduce methane, but continued government investment in technology and emissions reduction tools was essential.
“Being part of the solution to tackling climate change has always been a priority for UK farmers and methane reduction is a key part of that,” he said.
“We will continue to work with governments to ensure future policies reflect both the latest science and the realities on the farm.”
The global coalition called on governments preparing emissions commitments for COP30 to avoid “mixing methane and carbon dioxide together”, arguing that establishing separate pathways for short-lived and long-lived gases would enable fairer and more achievable targets for agriculture.
“Establishing an alternative path to short-term emissions opens a new debate about what constitutes ‘equitable and achievable’ emissions reductions for global agriculture,” the letter concludes.
With climate change negotiators set to meet in Brazil, farm groups say the move to split gas accounting could be a pivotal moment in ensuring agricultural policy is rooted in both scientific accuracy and practical implementation.
