CLIENT :
Agricultural Transformation Agency
PERIOD:
2015-2017
THEMATIC AREA:
Climate Change
STATUS:
Completed
Link:
www.ata.gov.et
DESCRIPTION:
Echnoserve was contracted by Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) to develop a systematic framework for accounting of greenhouse gas emission across the agriculture sector in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to recommend GHG accounting framework for the agricultural sector so that Ethiopia can not only report its achievements in developing green economy but also access additional climate finance. Having a standardized and globally acceptable GHG accounting framework for the agriculture sector will also help policy makers and experts in developing effective policy options and interventions.
The GHG accounting frameworks recommended here are drawn from lessons learnt from case studies of India, Brazil and Denmark; detailed evaluations of agricultural GHG accounting tools, databases, methodologies, protocols and standards; as well as field visits and capacity gap assessment. The capacity gap assessment was done in three dimensions: organizational, system and human. The study has looked at the feasibility and importance of developing a country level emission factors as well. Preparing country level emission factor for Ethiopia is not necessary as Ethiopia isn’t obliged to report using tier 2 approach as it is non-annex I country in the UNFCCC. As non-annex I country, the donor community and the international system allow Ethiopia to report using default values or tier I approach.
The development of the framework is built on recommendation given by the World Resources Institute, the World Bank (and its programme on Partnership for Market Readiness) in the Guide for Designing Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programs.
There is currently limited direction in terms of outlining the requirements for GHG framework. However, this document has sketched out the key components for GHG such a framework – namely - institutional arrangement, GHG coverage, emissions quantification, reporting procedure & schedules, reporting platform and data disclosure, quality control and assurance and enforcement. This document covers all the components of the framework except enforcement, which is currently not necessary in Ethiopia. Rather it has covered the technical and human needs that are crucial to implement the recommended framework.Taking into consideration the lessons learnt from the case studies, review of the identified tools and undertaking capacity gap assessment, and current government policy, the recommendation put forward in this study is for a short term (one to three years) to further fill the gap in Ex-ACT and use it to monitor and reporting GHG emission. The long-term recommendation is to develop country specific framework as well as prepare country specific emission factors.