Wpływ typów rolnictwa na emisję gazów cieplarnianych

Abstract

Problems related to the quality of natural environment are currently the major challenges facing the agricultural sector. The main issue is the air pollution associated with greenhouse gases but also with other pollutants. In terms of the impact of agriculture on the environment numerous studies have been conducted, however, they often fail to take into account economic determinants. The main goal of the article was to examine how the economic characteristics of different types of farming affect pollutants emissions. Characteristics both in micro- (remuneration of work force, expenditures related to the intensity of land management) and macro-scale (GDP per capita, average farm size, level of financial support to the agricultural sector) are taken into account. The hypothesis is that the productivity of factors and the characteristics describing the intensity of farming otherwise affect the emission of air pollutants according to the type of agriculture. The study covers the years 1995–2009 in 40 countries by using panel regression. It turns out that the type of agriculture in developed countries can effectively combine economic and environmental goals. In less developed countries growing labour and capital compensation still promote the increase of air pollutants emissions. In the middle-income countries there is a need for incentives to introduce energy-saving technologies.