GDP announces Net Zero initiative
Global Dairy Platform, in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Dairy Federation (IDF), is leading the development of Net Zero, Pathways to Low-Carbon Dairy (NZP).
While dairy is responsible for less than 3% of man-made GHGs globally, there is more the sector can do to improve the health of our planet and create a sustainable world for everyone, the association says.
NZP will:
- Engage global stakeholders to initiate a sector-wide dialogue with industry leaders, climate experts and others to identify how the sector can contribute to the implementation of the Paris Agreement
- Work with the global research community to analyse the potential for different practices/technologies across farming systems
- Establish a Champions Network of companies/associations/countries already taking climate action
- Develop cooperation models and pathways for the developed and developing worlds
- Create a methodology and pathways guide of practical actions.
- Track and measure progress globally via the Dairy Sustainability Framework, utilising FAO’s models for carbon accounting
- Demonstrate how dairy creates resilient, enduring economies and transforms lives
- Show that nutritious dairy foods, so important in the fight to reduce hunger and malnourishment, have an important role in responsible and sustainable food systems.
A technical feasibility study is currently underway, led by the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), with funding and support from GDP, FAO, New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).
Simultaneously, GDP continues to consult about the initiative with a broad range of stakeholders, from the dairy sector, governments, NGOs/civil society, inter-governmental agencies, academia, other livestock groups and with financial institutions including, commercial banks, development agencies, donors and foundations.
NZP has been well received and formal endorsement continues to grow. Supporters also include the Dairy Sustainability Framework (DSF), the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
NZP will launch in advance of the upcoming 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the 26th UN Climate Change Summit COP26 to proactively position dairy as a vital and component of sustainable food systems.