China’s Tea Industry: Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Potential

Tea is an important cash crop and a beverage that widely consumed across the world. In China (the largest producer of tea), industry growing, there need to understand current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sequestrations potential for mitigation so climate action can be strategically undertaken. Life cycle assessment carbon footprint methods were used quantify in tea cultivation processing 16 major producing regions year 2017. The system boundary was from cradle factory gate, which divided into three subsystems, namely agricultural materials production, production processing. Several units analysis chosen: region (province), area (ha) product (kg loose etc. Total GHG 28.75 Mt CO2eq, mainly attributable energy use (41%), fertilizer (31.6%) soil (26.7%). This equated 12.0 t CO2eq per ha 10.8 kg processed tea. Production Hubei, Yunan, Guizhou, Sichuan Fujian provinces contributed almost two thirds emissions, representing priority areas strategic reduce emissions. At same time, total sink amounted 21.37 MtCO2, 74.3% proportions stored soil, biomass, 49.3%, 30.0%, 20.7%, respectively. If best recommended management practices application adopted biomass as source processing, reduction 16.66 or 58% associated with appeared high by comparison other However, considering potential, should viewed sector action. Moreover, substantial through adoption improved seems very realistic. There may also additional opportunities development organic systems.