The relationship between agriculture and climate change is two-sided. Agriculture is the branch of the economy most affected by the ongoing processes. It is also a large emitter of greenhouse gases and there are more and more voices about the need to reduce emissions. The purpose of the study was, based on FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) data, to determine the structure of greenhouse gas emissions in farms and to identify types of farms where it is possible to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions through better energy use. The emission volume was determined on the basis of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology modified for the FADN data. The emissions related to the production of energy were found to be of minor importance compared to other emission sources. Only in the horticultural crop type is the emission from the Energy section the dominant stream of GHG emission. The greatest emissions come from livestock production. Therefore, the emphasis on reducing emissions should not be placed on the Energy sector because, except for the type of horticultural farm, there is not much potential for reduction. The introduction of taxes for GHG emissions at the level of 27.31 EUR/t would reduce farm income from 21% for the type of field crops to 40% for the type of herbivorous animals. The exception is low-emission permanent crops, where the decrease in income would be only 3.85%.

With growing attention being paid to the problems of sustainable development and just transition, energy poverty emerges as a focal issue to be addressed by the Common Policy. However, the dynamics of this phenomenon across the EU still appear to be insufficiently recognised. Therefore, this study deals with the problem of energy poverty convergence and aims to test it for the 27 EU countries over the period 2010–2022. Contrary to limited studies of energy poverty convergence that use a simple indicator, it uses aggregate measures based on consensual consequential indicators of energy poverty to verify the hypothesis of convergence. Absolute and conditional beta convergence are considered. Potential determinants of energy poverty are incorporated into a model of conditional convergence. The analysis confirms the existence of beta convergence of energy poverty in the EU, indicating the progressing socio-economic cohesion of the member states. The results, thus, deliver some arguments supporting an integrative approach to the energy policy of the EU. The research reveals that, among the factors influencing EP dynamics, an important role may be attributed to technological catch-up and income distribution across a society. Sustainable development should thus be supported with energy modernisation efforts of an inclusive character.

Climate change and negative environmental effects are results of a simplified understanding of management processes, i.e., assuming economic effects as the basis for development, without taking into account external costs. Economically efficient facilities are not always environmentally efficient. Due to the existing conflict of economic and environmental goals, it seems necessary to look for measures that would include both economic and environmental elements in their structure. The above doubts were the main reasons for undertaking this research. One of the important sectors of the economy accepted for research, where energy is an essential factor of production, is agriculture. Agricultural production is very diversified both in terms of inputs and final products. Depending on the production direction, the processes of conversion of energy accumulated in inputs into energy accumulated in commodity products have different natures and relationships. Taking into account the importance of agriculture in the national economy and the current environmental needs of the world, the types of farms generating energy surplus and those in which the surplus is the least cost-consuming were indicated. The research used the economic and energy efficiency index, which makes it possible to jointly assess technical and economic efficiency. Assuming the need to produce food with low energy consumption and a positive energy balance, it is reasonable to develop a support system for those farms showing the highest economic and energy efficiency indicators.

The main objective of this article is to define the current legal and economic framework for conducting activities in the field of carbon farming and the carbon certificate system in Poland. The research was conducted using desk research, and the legal acts in force in the EU and in Poland, as well as planned ones, were analyzed. The statistical data from Eurostat, the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), Statistics Poland, and The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARMA) were analyzed. In the European Union, agriculture is responsible for 11% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while in Poland, where the vast majority of these emissions are related to animal production, it is responsible for 8.5%. To ensure sustainable growth, it is necessary to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture. Work is underway in the EU to prepare legal regulations specifying the principles of carbon farming and introducing carbon certificates. The shape of this system is not yet precise, disputes within the EU bodies are related to the system of financing carbon farming, and certification principles. The presented assumptions raise great doubts among scientists. However, a voluntary certification system is in operation and starting to be used by Polish farmers. In Poland, from 2023, carbon farming is directly linked to the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy, where PLN 2.78 billion has been allocated for the “Carbon farming and nutrient management” eco-scheme, which constitutes 64% of the funds for financing eco-schemes. The carbon farming system requires further strengthening and development. The most important factor was considered to be increasing the involvement of farmers, through appropriate financial incentives and increasing their knowledge. Further research directions should focus on long-term economic aspects in addition to environmental and technical aspects.

The article provides an overview of various studies on energy consumption in agriculture. The focus was in particular on the sensitivity of farms and agribusiness to fluctuations in the prices of energy carriers, which is currently a problem for the entire food industry. In addition to the prices of direct energy carriers, biofuels, the EU ETS system, and fertilizers were identified as the main areas that play a key role in shaping the direct and indirect impact on the economic performance of agricultural producers. Moreover, it was presented how sensitive the food sector is to the limitations of fertilizer production, during which by-products necessary in food processing are produced. The production of fertilizers consumes almost half of the energy used in agriculture, but the lack of fertilizers means yield drops of 30–50%. Therefore, high energy prices and disruptions in its supply are a threat to the food security of a country, both from the perspective of agriculture and processing. Based on the literature review, research gaps have been identified that should guide future research.

W artykule przedstawiono teoretyczne aspekty funkcjonowania dopłat bezpośrednich oraz ONW w ramach Wspólnej Polityki Rolnej oraz genezę ich wprowadzenia. W drugiej części pracy dokonano oceny wpływu tych instrumentów na kształtowanie się dochodów gospodarstw rolnych w Polsce w latach 2004-2008 na podstawie danych pochodzących z FADN. Stwierdzono, iż dopłaty bezpośrednie i ONW stanowiły w badanym okresie od 11,68% do 38% dochodu gospodarstw rolnych, co stanowiło znaczące wsparcie dla rolników. Średnia suma płatności bezpośrednich i obszarowych wynosiła od 2332 zł w 2004 roku do 11027 zł w 2007 roku. Wysokość dopłat ONW była niższa 5-6 krotnie niż dopłat bezpośrednich.