Carbon emissions and Palm Oil briefing note
Climate change is an issue of ever-increasing prominence and urgency, and sustainable land use and production of agricultural commodities like palm oil will play a key role in our efforts to limit its impacts. According to the IPCC, greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation account for around 10% of global emissions, but if protected and restored forests could provide up to 37% of the greenhouse gas mitigation needed to ensure a good chance of stabilising warming to below 2˚C between now and 2030.1 Sustainable production of commodities like palm oil, which does not contribute to deforestation, has a significant role to play in the mitigation of climate change.
Carbon emissions are a major area of focus in the fight against climate change, with initiatives such as the Race to Zero campaign showcasing a growing cross-sector commitment to take action. Scope 3 emissions (occurring in a company’s supply chain) are of growing importance as supply chain actors look to address their broader emissions footprints.
This briefing brings together a summary of scientific research into the carbon emissions impact of palm oil, and how sustainable palm oil can reduce carbon emissions.
