European Farmers Need To Look at Ways of Cutting Greenhouse Gases, Minister Says

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European farmers need to look at ways of reducing their contribution to greenhouse gases, Britain's agriculture and environment minister said Sunday after meeting with her counterparts from across Europe.

LONDON — European farmers need to look at ways of reducing their contribution to greenhouse gases, Britain's agriculture and environment minister said Sunday after meeting with her counterparts from across Europe.


"Climate change is the most serious and long-term challenge we face and agriculture is the second largest source of U.K. greenhouse gases, 7 percent of the U.K.'s emissions," the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett said after the meeting in London.


"Farmers can help to address the drastic impacts of climate change, for example through water management to reduce the risks of flooding.


"The agricultural sector also needs to consider how it can contribute to reducing its own direct emissions of greenhouse gases, for instance through energy crop production and changing their management practices for fertilizer and manure application," she added.


Beckett met with agriculture and environment ministers from European Union countries, as well as from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.


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The ministers heard presentations from seven international experts on the impacts of climate change on farming and ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


"It will be important that we continue to share our experiences to manage the impacts of climate change and address major risks, such as the fire and flooding events we have recently witnessed across Europe," Beckett added.


Source: Associated Press