REDUCING COMMODITY AGRICULTURE’S PRESSURE ON NATURAL LANDS
It is now understood that any long-term plan to reduce the threat of dangerous global warming must account for the use of land. Deforestation and other land use changes are believed to account for more than 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Agricultural practices that reduce soil carbon content may account for another 14% or more. Meanwhile, demand for agricultural, livestock, and tropical wood products by the world’s largest economies is projected to increase significantly. While international leaders discuss a new international climate change treaty, there is considerable scope for other measures to reduce the pace of deforestation.
National Wildlife Federation has initiated a two-year dialogue and collaborative research effort with its partners and with leaders of major commodity industries to understand and offer alternatives to tropical deforestation related to agriculture and livestock. The aim of the project is to identify potential avenues for reducing the “climate change footprint” of key commodities markets.
We will develop several white papers, or “think pieces” to share information, lessons learned, and ideas gathered. The first of the “think pieces” will: give a brief summary of the state of play concerning the role of commodity agriculture production in deforestation and the resulting GHG emissions; review existing sustainability standards relating to agricultural commodities and livestock; and outline suggestions for different and/or more focused approaches to reduce deforestation and GHG emissions. Check out the international resources we’ve developed to-date.
For more information on this project, down-load this one-pager or contact Barbara Bramble
