Advances in Agricultural GHG Measurement and Monitoring: Implications for Policy Makers

Overview

Agriculture has big opportunity to reduce emissions

Agricultural practices, including expansion into forest lands, are a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, agriculture can also mitigate GHG emissions through the reduction of nitrous oxide and methane emissions, as well as through carbon sequestration, particularly in the developing world.

Despite this potential, limited awareness and low confidence in monitoring of agricultural interventions has inhibited inclusion of agriculture in climate change policy and emissions offset markets. Some examples include the UNFCCC process and domestic cap-and-trade legislation. Sub-national systems, such as the California Action Registry, offer further opportunities for gaining experience with agricultural GHG offsets.

Policies to must support new methods

This brief is an effort by a group of leading practitioners and academics in agricultural GHG measurement, monitoring, policy and research to communicate the status of agricultural GHG MRV capabilities. It considers the importance of robust agricultural methodologies, the barriers that have impeded their development and the current status of MRV for climate-friendly agricultural interventions.

Finally, it recommends policy actions to support the development of methodologies to strengthen the emissions reductions achievable by agriculture in a future international climate agreement and in national policies.