Green Farm (LIFE22-GIC-LT-GFarm for LIFE)

Abstract

The European Commission (EC) proposes to expand the scope of the land use, land-use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) to include all agriculture in LULUCF from 2031. According to the EC proposal, this common Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector must achieve climate neutrality at the EU level by 2035. The regulation is being revised to increase the integration of the agricultural and forestry sector into climate change management policies. Achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets requires a careful assessment of GHG calculation methodologies and a closer look at soils high in organic carbon. Thus, a systematic and unified ecosystem model is needed for more accurate, objective and reliable AFOLU sector GHG assessment, taking into account national values and factors. The carbon farming initiative was launched to integrate those sectors more smoothly, and is seen as an important factor for generating a real shift in the AFOLU sector’s contribution to EU climate targets. The EC developed a carbon farming technical guidance handbook for setting up and implementing results-based carbon farming mechanisms in the EU. The carbon farming initiative provides financial incentives for climate-friendly activities, creating a new source of income for farmers and land owners. Linked to this initiative is the development of a regulatory framework for certifying carbon removals based on robust and transparent carbon accounting to monitor and verify their authenticity, as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan. Such carbon removals should be rewarded either via the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or other public or private carbon markets. The target to establish and implement a GHG accounting system at farm level by 2025 is included in the National Climate Change Agenda of Lithuania. It is therefore necessary to develop a unified ecosystem model involving all stakeholders, using state-of-the-art technologies and solutions and related experience. The GFarm for LIFE project seeks to create systemic change in part of Lithuania's AFOLU sector and governance regarding GHG emission reduction by implementing carbon farming initiatives which contribute to achieving national and EU climate change mitigation and adaptation.