Description of impact
Underpinning Research Using innovative bio-economic models, we showed: 1) that restoring degraded pasturelands can reconcile the competing goals of livestock production with reduction of deforestation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; 2) a subsidy policy deployed by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), targeting pasture restoration, could cost-effectively achieve the stated targets for GHG emission reduction; and 3) that reducing meat consumption may in some cases increase GHG emissions.Significance and Reach of Impact: Our models provided evidence for: 1) The livestock sector contribution to Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement (2015). Estimates derived in our analysis directly underpin Brazil’s pledge to reduce overall GHG emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, mostly through reduced deforestation achieved by restoring 15,000,000-20,000,000ha of degraded pastureland(representing approximately 10% of Brazil’s 170,000,000ha of pastureland).2) Improving and supporting the next phase (2020-2030) of MAPA’s Low Carbon Agriculture programme, which provides financial incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, including pasture restoration.3) A shift in the view of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change towards the more nuanced position that reduced meat demand may not always lead to the anticipated reductions indeforestation and GHG emissions.
A joint submission with the University of Edinburgh to REF2021.
Impact date | 2014 → 2020 |
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Category of impact | Environmental |
Documents & Links
- Impact case study - University of Edinburgh - 6 - B_ Innovative modelling provid
File: application/pdf, 511 KB
Type: Text