Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture: Cost-effectiveness and policy instruments

This study examines the economic efficiency of public policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. It defines cost-effectiveness criteria and analyzes how economic instruments—such as taxes, tradable permits, and subsidies—can mobilize mitigation potentials at lowest societal cost. Drawing on recent French and European research, the paper quantifies the efficiency gains achievable through these instruments and assesses current climate and agricultural policies in light of their performance on agricultural GHG emissions. The findings highlight significant potential improvements in mitigation costs and inform policy design for integrating agriculture into climate strategies.