About the Initiative
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is an initiative unlike any other in agriculture in TERMS OF size and scope.
It brings together dairy farms of every size and type, as well as organizations throughout the dairy supply chain.
Launched September 22, 2021, during Climate Week and just prior to the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit, this growing movement is dedicated to reducing dairy’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 30 years.
Together we will amplify the efforts and initiatives already in place, optimizing and reducing emissions to safeguard nutrition security and sustain a billion livelihoods for tomorrow, while helping secure a future for us all.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is an initiative unlike any other in agriculture in TERMS OF size and scope.
It brings together dairy farms of every size and type, as well as organizations throughout the dairy supply chain.
Launched September 22, 2021, during Climate Week and just prior to the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit, this growing movement is dedicated to reducing dairy’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 30 years.
Together we will amplify the efforts and initiatives already in place, optimizing and reducing emissions to safeguard nutrition security and sustain a billion livelihoods for tomorrow, while helping secure a future for us all.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is an initiative unlike any other in agriculture in TERMS OF size and scope.
It brings together dairy farms of every size and type, as well as organizations throughout the dairy supply chain.
Launched September 22, 2021, during Climate Week and just prior to the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit, this growing movement is dedicated to reducing dairy’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 30 years.
Together we will amplify the efforts and initiatives already in place, optimizing and reducing emissions to safeguard nutrition security and sustain a billion livelihoods for tomorrow, while helping secure a future for us all.
HOW PATHWAYS TO DAIRY NET ZERO CAN SUPPORT YOU.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, your contribution matters.
Everyone in the global dairy community can support Pathways to Dairy Net Zero.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero will:
- Include commitments from the global dairy value chain to tackle climate change, while nourishing a growing population and sustaining the billion livelihoods dairy supports.
- Create methodologies, tools and pathways to transform commitments into positive, practical actions.
- Highlight progress from around the world, share best practices and recognize that all farms, all dairy systems and all regions can be more sustainable.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, your contribution matters.
Everyone in the global dairy community can support Pathways to Dairy Net Zero.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero will:
- Include commitments from the global dairy value chain to tackle climate change, while nourishing a growing population and sustaining the billion livelihoods dairy supports.
- Create methodologies, tools and pathways to transform commitments into positive, practical actions.
- Highlight progress from around the world, share best practices and recognize that all farms, all dairy systems and all regions can be more sustainable.
HOW PATHWAYS TO DAIRY NET ZERO CAN SUPPORT YOU.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, your contribution matters.
Everyone in the global dairy community can support Pathways to Dairy Net Zero.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero will:
- Include commitments from the global dairy value chain to tackle climate change, while nourishing a growing population and sustaining the billion livelihoods dairy supports.
- Create methodologies, tools and pathways to transform commitments into positive, practical actions.
- Highlight progress from around the world, share best practices and recognize that all farms, all dairy systems and all regions can be more sustainable.
HOW PATHWAYS TO DAIRY NET ZERO CAN SUPPORT YOU.
“THE DAIRY SECTOR PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS AND CAN CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY TO ALL THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.”
Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
SIX PRINCIPLES OF PATHWAYS TO DAIRY NET ZERO
Mitigation
GHG removals
Avoidance and adaptation
Insets and offsets
Measurement and monitoring
Overall support
SIX PRINCIPLES OF PATHWAYS TO DAIRY NET ZERO
Mitigation
Continue to improve production and process efficiency to further reduce the GHG emissions intensity of milk and dairy products
GHG removal
Enhance production practices that protect carbon sinks (soil, forests, grass and peatlands) and complement natural ecosystems.
Avoidance and adaptation
Improve practices such as feed, manure, fertilizer and energy management.
Insets and offsets
Identify and implement alternative, credible reduction options.
Measurement and monitoring
Measure GHG emissions to plan mitigation and monitor progress.
Overall support
Promote the initiative and emphasize the dairy sector’s climate ambition.
SIX PRINCIPLES OF PATHWAYS TO DAIRY NET ZERO
Mitigation
Continue to improve production and process efficiency to further reduce the GHG emissions intensity of milk and dairy products.
GHG removals
Enhance production practices that protect carbon sinks (soil, forests, grass and peatlands) and complement natural ecosystems.
Avoidance and adaptation
Improve practices such as feed, manure, fertilizer and energy management.
Insets and offsets
Identify and implement alternative, credible reduction options.
Measurement and monitoring
Measure GHG emissions to plan mitigation and monitor progress.
Promote the initiative and emphasize the dairy sector’s climate ambition.
OUR JOURNEY SO FAR AND WHERE WE ARE HEADING
Dairy Sustainability Framework established
Creating global, overarching goals to align the sector’s actions towards sustainability, and enabling annual reporting of progress, which began in 2018.
Dairy Declaration signed in Rotterdam
A commitment to the sustainable development of the dairy sector across six key areas, formalized at the World Dairy Summit.
FAO Global Climate Change and Global Dairy Cattle Sector Study
Analysis from 2005-2015 showed a reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity based on efficiency improvements made by the sector.1
Announcement at the United Nations Food Systems Pre-Summit
New Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative announced on July 26, 2021.
Launch of Pathways to Dairy Net Zero at United Nations Food Systems Summit and Climate Week
Initiative launched on September 22, 2021.
Sharing progress and driving change at COP26
During the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the global dairy sector encouraged climate commitments and demonstrated progress already being made.
Launch of mitigation pathways at COP27
Results of P2DNZ, GRA and FAO research program, including mitigation pathways for each dairy production system.
[Last accessed July 2021].