5^th Global Food Security Food Safety and Sustainability

Biography

Biography: Elisavet Zoupanidou

Abstract

In this paper, I reflect on the implications for science, policy and practice of the carbon offset projects in the livestock sector, with a global focus. So far, livestock sector has not been anchored in climate change policy to the same extent as energy sector, nor has it been considered within the context of achieving GHG targets to a level where tangible outputs are available; particular targets concerning biological emissions from livestock. As a consequence, it is unclear how and to what extent livestock can deliver on environmental sustainability, whilst maintaining current levels of productivity and future demand for livestock products. The livestock sector has an essential role to achieve the Pari’s Agreement’s goals. One of the main barriers to implementation of environmental management practices is the perception by the farming industry that environmental gains come at a cost and impact negatively on profitability. International markets offer an important mechanism to achieve a transition to net-zero carbon emissions worldwide. Here, I address those issues by performing an analysis that considers the extent to which livestock could contribute to achieving GHG reduction targets. This article outlines why shifts towards sustainable animal production systems should be taken up by the Conference of the Parties (COP), and how they could feature as part of countries’ mitigation commitments under their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be adopted from 2020 onwards In particular, this article addresses the question of how livestock carbon projects, given the current standards for the accounting of the predominant sources of agricultural GHGs (methane and nitrous oxide), can benefit from existing and emerging carbon markets in the world. In other words, how can carbon markets help to reduce the contribution livestock farming is making to global warming? I close by proposing an overarching framework for for reducing the pressure from the livestock system and addressing mitigation options in the short term and beyond through carbon offset projects. Key policy insights • With livestock sector representing 14.5% of the global GHG emissions and about one third of the global methane budget, sustainable animal production systems make a necessary contribution to meeting the climate targets. • Without action, the livestock sector is projected to grow by 70 percent by 2050. • Failure to shift animal production practices will require additional GHG reductions from other sectors. • Countries NDCs should include biological emission targets; options that reduce biological emissions without reducing the number of animals on farms are still fairly limited but available. • Carbon offset projects is an opportunity to bring livestock sector to the climate mitigation table and can leverage sustainable behaviours among the agents of the food chain. Policy makers can use the insights and farm data to structure shifts to climate smart practices, and subsequently identify context specific/relevant implementation policies. • With policy actions in key areas and financial incentives the sector’s emissions could be brought down significantly.