Official emissions inventories attribute methane emissions to the countries where rice is produced rather than where it is ultimately consumed. As a result, major exporting countries account for the reported emissions, while importing regions such as Europe, the Middle East and parts of Africa show a larger footprint when trade and consumption are taken into account.

According to the study, the Middle East’s rice-related methane footprint is driven almost entirely by imports, while Africa records the largest difference among world regions between production-based and consumption-based estimates.

The authors suggest that methane mitigation frameworks, including commitments under the Global Methane Pledge, could incorporate trade-adjusted estimates to provide a fuller picture of emissions associated with rice production and consumption, rather than relying only on domestic production figures.

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