Agriculture Methodology

INTRODUCTION TO METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE

GREENHOUSE GAS IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE POLICIES

D O W NL O A D T H E M ET H O D O L O G Y ( M A Y 2 0 1 8 V ER S IO N) :
https://climateactiontransparency.org/icat-methodology/agriculture-sector/

P U R POS E OF THE M ET HO D O L OG Y
This methodology helps users assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) im-
pacts of agriculture policies.

• What GHG impacts is a policy likely to have in the future?

• Is a policy on track and delivering expected results?
• What GHG impacts has a policy had to date?

H O W TO US E THE S CO PE A N D A PPL ICA B IL IT Y

This methodology can be used to assess a range of mitigation practic-
M E THODOLOGY
es or technologies in the agriculture sector that reduce emissions or
The Initiative for Climate Action
enhance removals from:
Transparency (ICAT) provides tools
and capacity building to support • Enteric fermentation
transparent and effective climate • Soil carbon pools
action worldwide.

ICAT has developed a series of

W HEN T O U S E THE M ET HO D O L OG Y
methodologies to help countries The methodology may be applied before, during and after policy
assess the impacts of their policies implementation.
and actions. They are intended to be
used in combination, and each one
can also be used on its own.

Introductory Guide
Define objectives
Impact Assessment Methodology

Greenhouse gas
impacts:
Sustainable
Renewable Development Identify potential
Energy Assess impacts policies and assess
ex-post their impacts
Buildings ex-ante
Efficiency Transformational
Change
Transport
Pricing
Non-State and
Agriculture Subnational Action
Forest

Monitor Select and

Process Methodology progress
during implemen-
implement
Stakeholder Participation tation policies
Technical Review
 E X AMPLE OF AN
AGRICULTURAL P OLI CY
C AUSAL CHAI N
SPLP
Programme
A causal chain approach is used to
understand how the policy and its
corresponding inputs and activities Policy
cause intermediate effects and
Ranchers enroll
ultimately result in GHG impacts. in program,
Detailed tables help you map policy training is Intermediate effect
provided, and
activities and identify intermediate payments are
made
effects and GHG impacts.
GHG impact

Ranchers
implement
pasture land
management
changes

Improve diet
for cattle
Increase Increase liming Sustainable Increase wood Better soil Improve diet
fertiliser intensification on pastureland quality for cattle
application of pastureland (systems)
silvopastoral

Increased N2O Increased CO2 Reduce Reduce forest Increased CO2 Increased CO2 Increase weight
emissions and N2O pastureland degradation removals from removals from gain and milk
from soils emissions expansion from wood living biomass soil carbon productivity
removals sequestration sequestration

Reduced CO2 Reduced CO2 Reduced CH4 Ranchers

and N2O emissions from per unit of increase
emissions from degradation production n herd size
deforestation from enteric (economic
fermentation gains)

Increased N2O, Possibly

CH4 emissions increased CH4
from manure emissions
from enteric
fermentation

www.climateactiontransparency.org
DO WNL O AD THE ME THO D O LO G Y :
https://climateactiontransparency.org/icat-methodology/agriculture-
sector/
No t e : This vers ion of the met h od ology will b e rev ised t o in c orp or a te ex a mp l es a n d l ea r n i n g s f r o m
a p p l ication in various cou n t ries d u rin g 2018-19. Th e fin a l v ersion wi l l b e p u b l i s h ed i n 2 0 1 9 .

CO NTA CT: Sinclair Vincent, Manager, Verra, svincent@verra.org