Agriculture & forestry energy use down 1.1% in 2023 – European Commission

Report on Energy Consumption in the EU Agriculture and Forestry Sector: An SDG Perspective

Overall Consumption Trends and Alignment with SDG 7 and SDG 12

In 2023, the European Union’s agriculture and forestry sector’s final energy consumption was recorded at 26.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe). This represents a modest decrease of 1.1% from 2022, indicating a slight improvement in energy efficiency, which aligns with Target 7.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). The sector’s consumption constituted 3.0% of the total final energy consumption in the EU, highlighting its role in national energy profiles and the importance of promoting sustainable practices under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

National Consumption Patterns and SDG Implementation

The share of direct energy consumption by the agriculture and forestry sector varies significantly among Member States, reflecting different national approaches to energy use in primary production and their progress towards SDG 7.

• Highest Consumption Shares:
  1. Netherlands (7.8%)
  2. Poland (5.2%)
  3. Latvia (5.0%)
• Lowest Consumption Shares:
  1. Luxembourg (0.8%)
  2. Slovakia (1.3%)
  3. Slovenia (1.6%)

Energy Source Composition: Challenges for SDG 7 and SDG 13

An analysis of the energy mix within the EU’s agriculture and forestry sector reveals significant challenges to achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The sector remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

1. Oil and Petroleum Products: Constituting 58.3% of consumption, this high share underscores the urgent need for a transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources to mitigate climate impact as per SDG 13.
2. Electricity: At 15.1%, the sustainability of this source depends on the primary generation mix of each Member State.
3. Natural Gas: Accounting for 12.1%, this fossil fuel further contributes to the sector’s carbon footprint.
4. Renewables and Biofuels: Representing only 11.7%, this figure indicates that the sector is far from meeting the objectives of SDG 7, which calls for a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article is fundamentally about energy consumption, efficiency, and the sources of energy used in the agriculture and forestry sector. It directly discusses the total energy consumed, the share of renewables, and the change in consumption over time, all of which are central to SDG 7.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article details the energy consumption of a major production sector (agriculture and forestry). Tracking and reducing energy use, as noted by the 1.1% decrease, is a key aspect of achieving more sustainable and efficient production patterns, which is the core of SDG 12.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The data pertains to the agriculture sector, which is directly responsible for food production. Energy is a critical input for modern agriculture. The efficiency of energy use and the transition to cleaner sources within this sector are vital for creating sustainable food production systems, as envisioned in SDG 2.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article highlights that a majority (58.3%) of the sector’s energy comes from oil and petroleum products, with another 12.1% from natural gas. The consumption of these fossil fuels is a primary driver of climate change. The data provided is essential for monitoring the sector’s carbon footprint and its progress in transitioning to cleaner energy sources to combat climate change.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The scope of the article includes the forestry sector. Sustainable forest management, a key component of SDG 15, involves minimizing the environmental impact of forestry operations. The energy consumed by this sector is a significant part of that impact, making the data relevant to this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy

   The article explicitly states that “renewables and biofuels” accounted for 11.7% of the EU agriculture and forestry sector’s direct energy consumption in 2023. This figure directly relates to the goal of substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.

2. Target 7.3: Improve energy efficiency

   The article reports a 1.1% decrease in energy consumption in the sector compared with 2022. This reduction is a direct measure of an improvement in energy efficiency, aligning with the target to double the global rate of improvement.

3. Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

   Energy is a natural resource. The article’s focus on the total consumption of energy (26.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent) and the year-on-year decrease reflects the monitoring of the efficient use of this resource within key production sectors.

4. Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems

   The data on energy consumption in agriculture is a key performance indicator for the sustainability of food production. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels (which make up over 70% of the sector’s energy use according to the article) and improving energy efficiency are integral to building resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

   This indicator is directly provided in the article. The statement that “renewables and biofuels” constitute 11.7% of the sector’s energy consumption is a direct measurement for this indicator.

2. Indicator 7.3.1: Energy intensity

   The article provides key data points for measuring energy intensity. It gives the total energy consumed (26.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent) and the change from the previous year (-1.1%). This data on energy consumption is the numerator for the energy intensity indicator, which measures energy consumed per unit of economic output.

3. Indicator 12.2.2: Domestic material consumption

   The article’s figure of “26.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent” is a measure of the domestic consumption of energy materials (oil, gas, renewables) by the agriculture and forestry sector. This directly contributes to the broader indicator of material consumption.

4. Implied Indicators for Climate and Food System Sustainability

   While not official UN indicators, the data points in the article serve as crucial proxy indicators. The breakdown of energy sources (58.3% oil, 12.1% natural gas) is an implied indicator of the carbon intensity of the agriculture and forestry sector (relevant to SDG 13). The total energy consumption per country is an implied indicator of the resource intensity of national agricultural systems (relevant to SDG 2).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ec.europa.eu