Rice feeds more than half the world. It’s also the climate equivalent of 239 million cars
Rice is a staple food for over half the world's population, but its cultivation significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. A recent study found that emissions from rice paddies have nearly doubled since the 1960s, equating to the annual emissions of 239 million cars. While there are methods to reduce these emissions, further strategies are needed to effectively combat climate change.
- ▪Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies have nearly doubled globally since the 1960s.
- ▪Rice cultivation is the largest emissions source in agriculture outside of livestock.
- ▪Using climate-smart practices could reduce global rice emissions by about 10% by midcentury.
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Rice feeds more than half the world. From terraced paddies in Southeast Asia to irrigated fields in China and India, it underpins daily meals for billions of people.Recommended Video But the same flooded soils that help rice thrive also create ideal conditions for microbes that release climate-warming gases. In a new study, our team of environment and agriculture scientists found that greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies have nearly doubled globally since the 1960s, averaging about 1.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per year in the 2010s. That’s roughly equal to the annual emissions of 239 million cars. This makes rice-growing the largest emissions source in agriculture outside of livestock, and rice demand is expected to keep rising.
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