Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative will officially launch during the UN Food Systems Summit in September
A first-of-its-kind Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative is being developed to accelerate climate change action throughout the global dairy sector. Announced at the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit, the climate effort will be unlike any other in agriculture in terms of size, breadth, and scope.
A multi-stakeholder group of organisations, including the global dairy sector and representatives from the scientific and research communities, are working together to develop methodologies, tools and pathways that work for every dairy system. Pathways to Dairy Net Zero will officially launch during the UN Food Systems Summit in September and aims to generate commitments at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, in November.
New research to guide the initiative
Research is underway to identify where positive climate change action is possible across all dairy production systems and regions throughout the world. The study is being conducted by the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Scotland’s Rural College and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. Preliminary findings include:
- Positive change is possible across all dairy systems and regions.
- Collaboration is needed to reduce dairy’s emissions.
- Reducing methane may be key to fast results.
- Dairy already has the means to reduce a significant proportion of emissions.
- Defining terminologies and targets will focus efforts to achieve the best results.
