Fondation EurActiv organised for Thursday 31 March a lunchtime Stakeholder Workshop on agriculture and climate change. The workshop was organised with the support of Yara.

Programme:

Despite being responsible for 20-30% of total GHG emissions, agriculture is not incorporated into the UN climate agreements. Climate diplomats in Cancún failed to pass a dedicated work programme, and the decision was postponed to next year’s round of negotiations in Durban.
Making agriculture an integral part of a smart solution to tackle climate change is however necessary: the sector’s emissions must be reduced and more carbon be sequestered into the soil and biomass.

• While intensive agriculture generates more emissions per hectare, it also leaves more land unused. What are the trade-offs between intensification and land expansion? Where can technology be beneficial?
• The European Commission will table legislative proposals to reform its agricultural policy in the summer. How can a reviewed CAP contribute to reducing the sector’s GHG emissions in Europe?
• The EU executive is preparing a strategy to modernise its development policy. How can the EU’s external policy help agriculture in developing countries reduce its environmental impact?

Contributors included:

• Michael HAMELL, Head of Unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil, DG ENV
• Myriam DRIESSEN, Senior Administrator in charge of Bioenergy , biomass, forestry and climatic changes, DG AGRI
• Olivier DE SCHUTTER, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
• Willem SLOOT, Yara, Senior Executive Industry Relations

Moderator: Julian OLIVER, Secretary General, Fondation EurActiv
Chair: Ross MELZER, Public Affairs Director, EurActiv