Unveiling the Hidden Environmental Injustice in Land Farming
Insights from Convergence Analysis of Greenhouse Farming Emissions​
Abstract
In developing countries, green house farming offers a path to food security but carries significant environmental costs. At present, there remains an inadequate understanding of carbon emissions from greenhouse farming and associated environmental justice issues.
This study seeks to fill this research gap by (1) comprehensively calculating greenhouse farming emissions using life cycle assessment (LCA) approach and tracking the dynamics and performances via convergence analysis; and (2) examining environmental justice issues behind the development of greenhouse farming across different regions of China.
​Study Area
In light of limited data accessibility, the scope of this study is confined to 21 Chinese provinces. Adopting conventional economic divisions, these provinces are categorized into four regions—Eastern China (EC), Western China (WC), Central China (CC), and Northeastern China (NEC).
Methodology and Data
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely embraced by academics and industrial practitioners for calculating the carbon emission. We utilize LCA to calculate the carbon emissions for both greenhouse farming and field farming processes.
​Results and Analysis
In the past decade, greenhouse farming has exhibited an average annual emission of approximately 100 billion kgCO2eq. In contrast, open-field farming has been associated with a more substantial annual emission, totaling nearly 500 billion kgCO2eq.
This discernible disparity underscores the contrasting environmental impacts of these agricultural practices, emphasizing the significance of comprehending and mitigating carbon emissions in the context of sustainable agricultural management.
On a national scale, greenhouse farming emerges as a more environmentally impactful practice. This perceptible dissonance has persisted over the past decade, with greenhouse farming emissions per hectare surpassing those of open-field farming by nearly 1.5 times.
At the regional level, greenhouse farming emissions display a slightly more pronounced degree of heterogeneity. Regions characterized by lower carbon emissions per hectare are typically areas showcasing higher levels of economic and technological development, such as the eastern and middle regions. Increased investment in the development of intensive and industrialized systems suggests a potential positive impact on mitigating climate change.