Flodin et al. (2025): Inclusion and understanding of farmers’ perspectives in policies and policymaking for greenhouse gas removal

Charlotte Li Flodin, Johanna Liljenfeldt, Wiebren Johannes Boonstra, IN: Journal of Rural Studies, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103789

The European Commission aims to facilitate a just transition towards climate neutrality in 2050 (no net greenhouse gas emissions) and acknowledges agriculture’s potential to contribute to greenhouse gas removal (GGR). But the sector is currently struggling with economic profitability and a declining farmers’ population. Farmers, moreover, often tend to be critical of sustainability and environmental policies, which negatively influences their willingness to engage with GGR. Based on insights from justice theory the authors assume that farmers’ potential reservations towards GGR can be mitigated by ensuring that their perspectives are included and inform the design and execution of GGR policies. But to what extent do policymakers understand and consider the inclusion of farmers’ perspectives on GGR? To explore this question the authors analyse key EU and Swedish GGR policy documents as well as interviews with policymakers against the procedural justice criteria of voice, transparency, impartiality and consistency.

LINK