Workshop on greenhouse gas quantification methods
Emissions of GHG are the primary causes of anthropogenic climate change which has severe impacts on agriculture. Agriculture is itself a big contributor to climate change. According to the IPCC, farming directly accounts for 13.5% of GHG emissions and land-use change (often clearing forest for crop land particularly in developing countries) is responsible for a further 17.4%.
Emissions of GHG are the primary causes of anthropogenic climate change which has severe impacts on agriculture. Agriculture is itself a big contributor to climate change. According to the IPCC, farming directly accounts for 13.5% of GHG emissions and land-use change (often clearing forest for crop land particularly in developing countries) is responsible for a further 17.4%.
Under Theme 3: Pro-poor climate change mitigation, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) aims to conduct analyses of agricultural greenhouse gas emission and potential for decreases in emissions/increases in sequestration across countries in East and West Africa. The purpose being to improve the ability to quantify changes in agricultural GHG at national and project scales to track performance for national planning, international financing, voluntary markets, regulatory markets, and supply chain initiatives.
In West Africa, the main issues on GHG quantification are related to methodologies, data and uncertainty assessment, quality control, technical capacity and greenhouse gas accounting and reporting principles. Bringing together experts from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Senegal, the overall objective of the workshop is to advance knowledge, exchange information and share experiences on measurement, verification and reporting (MRV) on GHG emissions in West Africa.
Specific objectives
a) Review GHG quantification methodologies in WA.
b) Identify constraints, and opportunities in MRV of GHG emission
c) Strengthen the capacity and develop a network of experts/practitioners on GHG quantification in WA
d) Explore options for protocols and guidelines, identify gaps and defines issues where further work is required.
Outputs
a) Progress in advancing GHG quantification methods discussed with the objective of publication
b) Constraints, opportunities and experts needs in MRV of GHG assessed
c) Capacity for assessing pro-poor mitigation options strengthened through an expanding regional research network.
d) Action plan to further develop protocols and guidelines developed.
