Climate Action

European Biodiversity Conference, 9 December 2015 "Managing Europe's carbon stocks for climate resilience ecosystems" Press Club Brussels Europe (Rue Froissart, 95)

Land Use in the Paris climate Conference (COP21) Peter Wehrheim, European Commission, Head of Unit Directorate General for Climate Action

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Two issues

Land Use, agriculture and forestry in climate mitigation

From Kyoto to Paris: land use plays an increasingly important role

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1. Non-CO2 from agriculture (CH4, N2O) are part of EU‘s 2020 reduction commitment!

2. CO2 from agricultural soils and forestry is not included in 2020 climate target!

Agriculture, Forestry and climate

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Agriculture, Forests, Land Use(AFOLU): One fourth of global GHG emissions

Source: IPCC, 5th Assessment Report & New Climate Economy Report 2014

Land Use, agriculture and forestry in climate mitigation

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Why the role of forest/land is important for Climate Change ? Sources and removal of anthropogenic CO2 emissions (2004-2013)

Forests/land are part of the problem and part of the solution…

15.8±0.4 GtCO2/yr

44%

Remains in the atmosphere

Remains in the atmosphere Absorbed by forests

Absorbed by oceans

10.6±2.9

GtCO2/yr

29%

26%

9.4±1.8 GtCO2/yr

32.4±1.6 GtCO2/yr 91%

3.3±1.8 GtCO2/yr 9%

+

Fossil fuel emissions

Deforestation emissions (Global Carbon project 2014)

Land Use, agriculture and forestry in climate mitigation

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"Business as usual" projection of EU agriculture non-CO2 emissions into 2050

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Current policy

Power Sector

Residential & Tertiary

Non CO2 Other Sectors

Industry

Transport

Non CO2 Agriculture

• Without further action agriculture emissions will grow in relative importance

• By 2050: third of total EU emissions, tripling its current share

Land Use, agriculture and forestry in climate mitigation

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UNFCCC • Article 2: The ultimate objective of this Convention of the UN Convention on

Climate Change is a stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere within a timeframe, which ensures that food production is not threatened.

Kyoto:

Land use sector treated differently for developed and developing countries

Durban climate conference 2011 adopted rules (LULUCF) for land use for developed countries

Warsaw conference finalized rules on combatting tropical deforestation (REDD+) in developing countries

From Kyoto to Paris

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What is different to Kyoto? All countries set to contribute:

180 countries climate protection pledges

Source: Climate Action Tracker

INDCs – a good step forward 180 countries, ~95% of

emissions UNFCCC assessment: • "No action" scenario would

lead to 3.7 – 4.8°C rise • Delays lead to high mitigation

and adaptation costs • Can stay below 2°C and

maintain economic growth with global action and climate smart policies in all sectors

From Kyoto to Paris

The 2°C target

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Paris:

About 100 countries mention in their pledges (INDCs) a mitigation role for land use and agriculture

Estimated contribution from land use at global level is about 20-25% countries expect a significant contribution from land use

The pledges made are an important new source of LULUCF information.

Additional efforts to improve transparency are needed, as well as further guidance (from UNFCCC) to enhance the transparency on accounting rules for the land use sector.

From Kyoto to Paris

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Conclusions

Role of agriculture, forestry and land

Acknowledgement of significant mitigation potential

From Kyoto to Paris

Basic rules related to land use/agriculture in (international) climate policies exists, but have to evolve further

Process to further improve the environmental integrity and transparency of land use sector – after Paris

Win-wins are available: e.g. soil carbon content, afforestation, agro-forestry

Enhanced financing for global climate-smart agriculture

Inside the EU

The Commission intends to present legislative proposal(s) on the inclusion of agriculture and LULUCF into the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework in 2016.

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Merci beaucoup!

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/

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Share of agriculture GHG emission in total emissions (excl. LULUCF) in the EU-28, 2012

Ireland Agriculture emissions >30%

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Possible to "square the circle"? Reconcile various objectives with each other?

Agriculture

& Foresty

Mitigate climate change

Protect biodiversity water, nat. resources

Maintain food security

Optimize farmers' incomes

Yes! identify win-win solutions, e.g. through increased resource efficiency, more integrated landscape

management

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EU28 land & agriculture emissions since 1990

CO2

Non-CO2

GHG emissions and removals as

reported under the UNFCCC

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Agreed headline targets 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy

2020

2030

New governance system + indicators

-20 % Greenhouse

Gas Emissions

20% Renewable

Energy

20 % Energy

Efficiency

- 40 % Greenhouse Gas

Emissions

27 % Renewable

Energy

27%* Energy

Efficiency

10 % Interconnection

15 % Interconnection

* To be reviewed by 2020, having in mind an EU level of 30%

EUCO 169/14 du 23/10/2014

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…while growing the economy is possible!

EU response

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Decoupling agricultural production from (non-CO2) GHG emissions is possible as well!

2. Agriculture and forestry in international climate change

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Regional patterns of GHG emissions are shifting along with changes in the world economy.

Shift in global emissions

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EU Target: - 20%

ETS ESD: 28 MS

targets

Building

s Transport

Agriculture:

Non-CO2

emissions

(livestock and

fertilizer use)

Waste LULUCF Decision

Aforestation

Reforestation

Deforestation

Forest

Management

Cropland and

Grassland

Management, CO2

emissions

Wetland

Drainage and

Rewetting

Treatment of emissions from agricultural land use and forestry in the current EU climate policy

Decision 529/2013/EU: • CO2 emissions and removals • Accounting exercise • No inclusion in the 2020 ESD target • Improved information

EU response

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2030 Stakeholder consultation process

• Consultation ran from 26 March to 18 June 2015

• Available here: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/consultations/articles/0026_en.htm

• Launched in parallel with the 2030 effort sharing consultation

• Addressed to all stakeholders and experts in the field of agriculture and forestry: farmers, SMEs, farmers' associations, regulatory authorities, research institutions, citizens etc.

• Summary report of the consultation will be part of the Impact Assessment

• Stakeholder meeting: 2-day workshop in Sept 2015