Economic and climate efficiency of agriculture in the EU

Abstract

The article in the theoretical part draws attention to the phenomenon of climate change and two-way relations between these changes and agriculture. Agriculture as an economic sector is extremely sensitive to any climatic disturbances. However, as a greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, it contributes to this process. In the era of significant reductions in GHG emissions, it is becoming increasingly important to obtain the highest economic effects with the smallest external effects (e.g. GHG). The purpose of the article is therefore to determine the level of GHG emissions in agriculture and the economic and climate efficiency of agriculture in EU countries and comparison to other sectors of the economy. The DEA method was used in the study. Calculations were made based on Eurostat data. It was found that the share of GHG emissions of agriculture in the EU represents 10-11% of all emissions in the European Union. Agriculture is the least economically and climatically effective sector of the EU economy. Comparing the agriculture of individual countries, the highest efficiency was achieved by Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Finland, the lowest - Lithuania, Poland and Latvia.