Climate

EU can build on existing agriculture emissions targets to unlock the sector’s climate potential

Note: This article was updated on June 26, 2026 (original publication: June 8, 2026) to reflect changes in the status of Estonia’s climate law. A warming planet and more frequent extreme weather events will change how food is produced in the European Union (EU) in 2040 and beyond. But what about the sector’s contribution to fighting the climate crisis?

One step forward, two steps back for conservation

IRA freeze and DOGE cuts limit farmer access to popular conservation programs. The on-farm conservation programs EQIP and CSP provide vital support for farmers to increase resilience and improve environmental outcomes on their farms. But following federal cuts to USDA funding and staffing, program acceptance rates dropped off steeply in fiscal year 2025. Learn more in our latest report.

IATP Europe comments on use of international carbon credits to meet EU 2040 climate target

In April, IATP Europe submitted feedback to the European Commission on the plan introduced by the Commission in December 2025 to apply international carbon credits toward the EU's 2040 climate target. The Commission is currently in the process of building a legislative framework for the purchase of international credits, which is expected to be published by the end of this year.

Headwinds for factory farm biogas open doors for better alternatives

In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would stop providing loan guarantees for methane biodigester projects on large animal operations for the rest of 2026. While the USDA’s concerns were financial, given the questionable climate benefits and other environmental concerns, pausing loans for biodigesters is a step in the right direction.

Scientists say 'business as usual' no longer an option for EU’s food and farm systems

The European Union has adopted its target for cutting climate pollution by 2040 and is now working on the policies needed to achieve it. Its climate advisors have just published a major report on agriculture with a clear message for the sector: business as usual is not an option if Europe wants to ensure a better future for its farmers and rural communities, and, frankly, everyone else.