National Planning for GHG Mitigation in Agriculture: A Guidance Document

This manual aims to provide national policy makers advisors and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector with an introduction to the main mitigation planning approaches and the key elements that may need to be considered in the planning process. It describes two of the main approaches to greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation planning in developing countries: Low-Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). It explains the possible relationships between them and their status within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). National mitigation planning processes have policy, technical and institutional dimensions that need to be addressed in an integrated and iterative manner. For each of these dimensions four key elements are outlined. Examples from mitigation planning processes in developing countries are provided to illustrate the range of options for addressing these key elements in country-specific ways. Special considerations for including smallholder farmers in the planning process are highlighted.