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University expert to help draw up United Nations climate change guidance

Posted Today

An expert from º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø has been chosen to develop new United Nations guidance on aligning interventions to reduce the impact of livestock on climate change with global national greenhouse gas reporting. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Michael Lee was appointed to his new role with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)’s Livestock Environmental Panel (LEAP) as Scientific Advisor - and will now also join this new Technical Advisory Group as it develops new guidelines for countries to integrate livestock greenhouse gas mitigations into their national inventory reports. 

These reports are key parts of each country’s data on climate change and their progress towards climate goals – and so this work will prove crucial in ensuring countries’ livestock mitigation actions are accurately reflected. 

Sustainable agriculture expert Professor Lee is one of 45 people from around the world confirmed as experts after a rigorous process, which vetted 160 applications from 48 different FAO Member nations. 

He said: “Between us, we will be drawing up methodologies and suggestions for countries to make sure their livestock work is being accurately reported and represented. 

“A second panel of reviewers is also being appointed – meaning that once we have drawn up our recommendations, those suggestions will be rigorously and independently peer reviewed. 

“Taken together, this work means that the combined expertise of people in organisations around the globe will be feeding into these suggestions, refining them, and making sure we have a consistent, evidence- based approach. 

“That approach will then guide the world’s Governments, helping them to meet two of the most pressing challenges of our time – tackling climate change effectively, but also ensuring we feed the world’s growing population sustainably and nutritiously.” 

LEAP works with governments, the private sector, academia, NGOs and civil society organisations, drawing on the expertise of an array of specialist members around the world. It was announced in February last year that º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø had become a member of the organisation – alongside institutions from Argentina and China. 

His work with the organisation on climate change has already seen Professor Lee give a keynote speech on The Role of Livestock in Circular Bioeconomy Systems at an event at the most recent COP Climate Change conference, held in Brazil, in addition to a º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø side event in the COP Blue Zone to reflect on how livestock can contribute to sustainable diets and, in concert, realise the Paris Climate Agreement’s commitments.