Targeting and prioritization of interventions for reducing enteric methane emissions: findings and lessons from 13 countries.

Abstract

Globally, ruminants (dairy and beef cattle, goats, and sheep) constitute the largest source of anthropogenic emissions of methane (CH4) and, based on the activity of CH4 in the atmosphere, livestock CH4 emissions have been responsible for close to 20% of the warming the earth has experienced since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Ruminant livestock produce about 2.7 Gt CO2 eq. of CH4 annually, of which FAO estimate that about 500 Mt CO2-eq. can be mitigated through widespread adoption of known good practices that increase productivity. A range of technological options for interventions exists that have varying environmental and economic impacts and costs. Identifying appropriate interventions requires understanding the trade-offs across levels from farmers to sub-national and national policy makers and consideration about what is appropriate for given contexts. Targeting and prioritizing approaches narrows an extensive list of possible practices down to a range of best-bet options that can be scaled out. This paper will present the approach applied to assess and prioritize interventions for reducing enteric CH4 in 13 countries (Argentina, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Senegal, Benin, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso). More specifically, it will present (i) detailed baseline estimates of enteric CH4 emissions from ruminant systems estimated using the Global Livestock and Environment Assessment Model (GLEAM) and comprehensive locally-obtained data; (ii) potential mitigation packages developed by local experts and assessed for both their ability to reduce GHG emissions and their cost effectiveness; (iii) results from prioritization of mitigation interventions based on their impacts on enteric CH4, productivity and profitability.