Thread by @CAugustenborg

This morning, I was invited to the policy session of @FAOLivestock's annual meeting with delegates from 40 countries hosted this year by @agriculture_ie. I was pleasantly surprised by constructive, honest discussion & reception to my own comments, also shared in this thread 👇

@FAOLivestock @agriculture_ie Unlike other livestock related events I've attended, it was refreshing to see clear agreement on the climate science and role of methane in contributing to global warming and the need to reduce these emissions. 1/X

A 2020 Nature study reporting 10% increase in methane in past 2 decades, along with UNEP data that livestock contributes 32% of methane emissions globally, serves as stark reminder of the significant impact of livestock sector to #climatechange alongside other sectors 2/X

When we talk about the need for "science-based policy", THIS 👆is the science that must be front and center in our minds if we are to have any credibility on environmental/climate sustainability in the #LivestockAgenda 3/X

As said many times by many more eminent scientists than myself, "The atmosphere doesn't care how GHG efficient we are. It only cares about the total volume of GHGs." 4/X

Carbon footprints per unit of milk/beef may be helpful to compare farms or technologies, but the concerned citizen will judge a sector's environmental credibility on its contribution to lowering the total volume of our GHG emissions, not by its efficiency.

The challenge in our global food production system, as summarized by @WorldResources is to feed our growing global population by increasing food production up to 50% WHILE NOT INCREASING GHG emissions. 6/X

The 2019 @IPCC_CH Special Report on land use says diversifying our food system is 1 part of meeting that challenge, not only to mitigate GHG emissions but also to adapt to a precarious & changing climate. A call to diversify is echoed in IRL'S JOCCA report & UK Climate Council.

As always, we need to reiterate constantly we are not in this climate & biodiversity crisis due to farmers. In places like IRL/EU, family farmers were only responding to policy and incentives in their actions to expand livestock farming 8/X

It is therefore the role of policy makers now to create new mechanisms/incentives to support a #justtransition for farmers in the same way we are supporting fossil fuel workers, enabling them to diversify incomes & products beyond livestock farming. 9/X

My concern for the #LivestockAgenda is potential reputational damage & lost opportunity if the sector is perceived as failing to engage in total GHG emissions reductions, globally & nationally, particularly when other sectors & society recognizes the need for EVERYONE to change.

Therefore, my call to action for countries like IRL, who are fortunate not to have the food security issues of other developing countries (& in words of @simoncoveney, produce luxury food products for luxury markets) is to immediately implement all emissions reduction measures

Thanks to @teagasc @TeagascSignpost research, we know existing measures can get us 80% of the way to reaching agricultural emissions ceiling, but only if most farmers adopt. Adoption is the major challenge of all sectors now in achieving climate targets.

Remainder of our emissions reduction targets must be met with reform of the food system, including diversification options. But we must act now. The longer we wait, the harder & more drastic the measures will have to be, not only for mitigation but also for adaptation reasons.

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