Technical pathways of mitigating greenhouse gases emission from agriculture and rural areas under double-carbon strategy

Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is an extensive and profound systematic economic and social development change. This is related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. To achieve the strategic objectives of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, this study clarified that it is important to adjust energy structure vigorously, promote clean and low-carbon development of energy systems, accelerate the transformation of industrial structure, eliminate backward production capacity, strive to improve energy utilization efficiency, and strictly control energy consumption intensity. It is not only the objective demand of human beings to deal with climate change but also a practical demand for the transformation and upgrading of domestic industries. It is necessary to transform high energy consumption and pollution process to a high-quality development model and green and low-carbon economy, to achieve sustainable economic and social development. With the development of modern agriculture and promotion of agricultural modernization, agriculture and rural areas have shown great potential in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction. Therefore, the relationship between agricultural and rural GHG sources and sinks and emission reduction potential was analyzed, and the main GHG emission sources, such as farmland systems, animal husbandry systems, waste, and daily life, were arranged in a certain order. Emissions of non-CO₂ GHGs were the focus of emission, and the emissions were relatively stable. The main emission reduction paths in agriculture and rural areas were summarized in the following order: farmland system emission reduction, animal husbandry system emission reduction, secondary resource emission reduction, and green life emission reduction. Among them, methane emission reduction in rice fields, nitrous oxide emission reduction in dry land, and methane emission reduction by ruminants are notable. The underlying scientific mechanism of emission reduction in agriculture and rural areas was discussed. Therefore, we advocated that the particularity and scientificity of emission reduction potential and internal demand of agricultural and rural development be followed, suggested that emission reduction and extreme emission reduction be paid attention to, and opposed the simple pursuit of carbon neutrality in agricultural and rural systems. We suggested that scientific and technological innovations and promotions be carried out. We strongly suggested that emission reduction and sink increase in agriculture and rural areas be carried out, guaranteeing food safety and security, co-promoting green development, pollution reduction, and carbon mitigation in agriculture, coordinating climate change adaptation, establishing innovation. Eventually, these practices would result in coordinated development of production, life, and ecology and provided support for the construction of ecological civilization and rural revitalization.