Land use practices, including forestation, agriculture (livestock and crops), and waste management account for approximately 30%, or 15 billion tons, of global anthropogenic CO₂e emissions each year. The rate of emissions is increasing worldwide due to rapid deforestation and forest degradation, expansion of agriculture, and more waste creation.

Rising emissions are contributing to higher atmospheric concentrations of CO₂e that lead to dangerous climate change.

Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for an estimated 12% of annual CO₂e emissions, most of which is attributable to tropical developing countries. Agriculture contributes an additional 13.5% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Landfill and other waste emissions account for 3.5% of global warming gases each year. Intensification in each of these land use areas is part of an unsustainable growth pattern.

Reducing emissions from land use is particularly challenging in the face of increased demand for resources and land. Demand for cultivated land is increasing for multiple uses including the production of food (for both humans and animals), biofuels, development, and wood products. Restricting land use options could adversely affect the lives of some of the world's least-privileged rural citizens. There is also an increasing amount of waste from the use of all of these resources.