Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, IT 30 March 2018 www.fao.org/partnerships/leap Submission by the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership To the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) In relation to the Decision 4/CP.23 Identifying effective and efficient solutions to meet the Paris Agreement s national targets Offer for technical assistance: key messages and follow-up Multi-stakeholder partnerships are necessary to build a common understanding on highly-debated technical issues so policy dialogue can progress. Multi-stakeholder partnerships enable dissemination and deploy effective and efficient solutions. The Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership builds consensus on technical approaches to assess the environmental performance of feed and livestock supply chains so policy dialogue with stakeholders is quickly shifted from methodology harmonization to tangible action in order to meet national targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). LEAP is closely linked with the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL), a multi-stakeholder initiative in charge of dialogue with stakeholders on policy scenarios for livestock production in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. The LEAP Partnership welcomes the Decision 4/CP.23, Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, which emphasises the key role of livestock supply chains and food security on the international climate agenda. The LEAP Partnership wishes to invite the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture to take advantage of using the LEAP guidelines to support measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from feed and livestock supply chains by UNFCCC parties. LEAP guidelines assist countries, feed and livestock sectors to account for GHG emissions, soil carbon storage, nutrient and water use from livestock supply chains, and to populate national inventories relative to a base period. LEAP guidelines help identify hot spots and track improvement towards sectoral national targets on GHG emission reduction. LEAP guidelines enable identification of strategic solutions in support of NDCs while preventing shift of burdens from an environmental dimension to another. Appendices 1 and 2 illustrate how LEAP guidelines relates to the identification of solutions for mitigation and adaptation to climate change and, hence, to the achievement of NDCs. LEAP calls for consideration of additional elements relative to biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture 1 in order to better consider environmental benefits from livestock production when identifying Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), still in view of preventing burdens shift and taking action without contradicting other international environmental policies. 1 A wide array of livestock production systems exists worldwide. To prevent shift burdens when designing NAMAs and NAPAs suited for specific production systems, aspects relating livestock and land management to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems should be emphasized further. For example, biodiversity and healthy rangeland ecosystems are key for productivity and adaptation to climate change.
Who we are, objectives, guiding principles, modus operandi The Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership 1 is a multi-stakeholder initiative composed of countries, the private sector, NGOs and CSOs facilitating enhancement of livestock supply chains environmental performance, whilst ensuring its economic and social viability. The Secretariat 2 is hosted by the convener partner The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). LEAP partners do not only acknowledge the significant contribution from livestock to GHG emissions, but also the role the same sector plays for food security and resilience of communities, agriculture and ecosystems. Through technical consensus building, LEAP identifies solutions to achieve efficiency gains and to substantially cut down on GHG emissions while: (a) preventing shift in burdens from global warming to other environmental compartments (b) safeguarding and boosting ecosystem services produced by livestock Initiated in 2012, LEAP is now at the end of its Phase 2. Circa 450 international experts have collaborated and contributed to the LEAP guidelines development. The LEAP guidelines are developed by Technical Advisory Groups formed through FAO for technical contributions and collaboration with scientific networks, LEAP partners and stakeholders. Before publication, LEAP guidelines undergo a thorough review process involving external peer-reviewers, partners, relevant scientific societies and other stakeholders. LEAP guidelines can be used for several purposes at various application scales. At farm level, LEAP guidelines can be used as a strategic tool enabling best farming practices identification from an environmental point of view. At company and national level, the LEAP guidelines can be used to drive sustainable sourcing of feed and livestock products. At national level, LEAP guidelines were designed to monitor sectoral environmental performance over time, and to provide evidence for policy scenarios discussions on rural development and sustainable food systems. LEAP delivers its technical products to multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock so policy discussion relies on evidences. A success story LEAP guidelines are already acknowledged as tools to implement conclusions drawn in the 43 rd Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS43) on sustainable intensification of livestock production systems 3. The importance of the LEAP work was also acknowledged by the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) 4 as tangible products delivered in the context of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock 5 and by other bodies such as the Commission on Livestock Development for Latin America and the Caribbean (CODEGALAC). Selected LEAP guidelines are also being formally endorsed in the framework of flagship initiatives led by the International Dairy Federation 6, the International Feed Industry Federation 7, Uruguay, France, New Zealand and the European Commission 8. 2 More information on the LEAP Partnership, including the full list of participants and technical products are available on http://www.fao.org/partnerships/leap/en/ 3 http://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-home/plenary/cfs43/en/ 4 http://www.fao.org/3/a-ml052e.pdf 5 http://www.livestockdialogue.org/about-agenda/about-the-agenda/en/ 6 https://www.fil-idf.org/working-areas-strategic/standards/ 7 http://globalfeedlca.org/ 8 See agricultural modelling in the Product Environmental Footprint Guidance Document: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/policy_footprint.htm
Join LEAP for a shared work programme 2019-2021 UNFCCC and its Parties are encouraged to formally join LEAP 9 so consensus is consolidated through guidelines road testing and development of tools. Developing and harmonizing environmental assessment calculators is currently proposed for the LEAP work programme 2019-2021 in order to foster applications in support of NDCs in the short run. LEAP calls for joint action so farmers and livestock products processors are empowered with tools driving GHG emission reduction at no cost for other environmental dimensions while also considering socio-economic viability for farmers, countries and investors. Training sessions, workshops and outreach events to sustain dissemination and capacity building are envisaged to be at the core of the next phase of the LEAP Partnership. Elaboration of additional LEAP guidelines is also being considered. 9 Parties and stakeholders can apply to LEAP by returning a signed copy of the letter available for download from: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/benchmarking/docs/commitment_for_leap_partnership.pdf
Appendix 1. LEAP guidelines in support of NAMAs LEAP guideline Main application in the context of NDCs Assessment framework animal feeds supply chains (Version 1 released in 2016) Feed efficiency feed additives supply chains (Under development, Version 1 release scheduled in early 2019) fossil energy demand from poultry 2016) fossil energy demand from small ruminant supply chains (Version 1 released in 2016) large ruminant supply chains (Version 1 released in 2016) pig 2018) Guidelines for environmental quantification of nutrient flows and impact assessment in livestock supply chains (Currently under revision, release Soil carbon stock changes (Currently under revision for public review, release scheduled by December 2018) a) b) Scenario analysis for assessing feed additives as mitigation measure c) Feed efficiency a) (N20) b) Nutrients use efficiency c) - Water pollution - Acidification Feed additive assessment or supply chain assessment relying on life cycle assessment and carbon footprinting (ISO 14044, Nutrients use efficiency assessment framework at farm level Sectoral GHG emission assessment (as part of Farm assessment feed crop assessment land management Farm assessment also in the context of life cycle and land use change) Water use assessment for livestock production systems and supply chains (Draft version under revision after peer-review, release LEAP guidelines on biodiversity (Under development, Version 1 release scheduled in late 2018) a) Water use efficiency/water productivity b) Blue water scarcity footprint a) Biodiversity loss from land use Water productivity assessment framework relying on life cycle assessment and water footprinting (ISO 14044:2006; ISO 14046:2014) Landscape assessment approach Hot spot analysis relying on life cycle assessment (ISO 14044:2006)
Appendix 2. LEAP guidelines in support of NAPAs LEAP guideline Main application in the context of NAPAs Assessment framework feed additives supply chains (Under development, Version 1 release scheduled in early 2019) Scenario analysis for assessing feed additives to provide adequate nutrition to livestock, with the objective of supporting animal health and enhancing livestock resilience to climate stresses Feed additive assessment relying on life cycle animal feeds supply chains (Version 1 released in 2016) fossil energy demand from poultry 2016) fossil energy demand from small ruminant supply chains (Version 1 released in 2016) large ruminant supply chains (Version 1 released in 2016) pig 2018) Guidelines for environmental quantification of nutrient flows and impact assessment in livestock supply chains (Currently under revision, release Soil carbon stock changes (Currently under revision for public review, release scheduled by December 2018) a) Quantification of ecosystem service from manure deposition (soil fertility) Nutrients use efficiency assessment framework at c) farm level - Water pollution - Acidification Quantification of ecosystem services from Farm assessment management of grasslands and rangelands: Farm assessment also in the context of life cycle soil carbon storage 10, and schemes on low-carbon and carbon neutral farming Water use assessment for livestock production systems and supply chains (Draft version under revision after peer-review, release a) Quantification of ecosystem services b) Water management c) Blue water scarcity footprint Water productivity assessment framework Water requirement quantification according to Water Footprint Network manual relying on life cycle assessment and water footprinting (ISO 14044:2006; ISO 14046:2014) LEAP guidelines on biodiversity (Under development, Version 1 release scheduled in late 2018) a) Land use management b) Prevention of land use changes c) Characterization of ecosystem services delivered by livestock management (wild species habitat preservation, soil biodiversity 11 ) Landscape assessment approach relying on environmental risk assessment and life cycle assessment 10 Soil organic carbon matter interacts with soil water drainage and is fundamental to preserve health and productivity of soils 11 Preserving soil biodiversity is key to ensure ecosystem services such as uptake of nutrients and carbon storage