IFC and Carbon Trust sign MoU to advance progress in improving productivity and reducing GHG footprint in livestock supply chain

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Carbon Trust, an international group of experts on carbon reduction and resource efficiency have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote better productivity and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the livestock supply chain.

06 March 2017

The MoU focuses on exploring collaborative opportunities to support a major pilot programme designed by the Carbon Trust to transform the resource efficiency of Brazil’s beef sector and its supply chain, which is currently responsible for over 40 percent of Brazil’s national GHG emissions. Over 5 years, this programme aims to deliver almost US$1 billion in energy cost savings and reduce emissions by more than 16 million tonnes, while at the same time recovering 200,000 hectares of degraded pastureland.

 

The scope of the MoU also includes exploring the possibility for the Carbon Trust to work with the IFC to help develop a simple and reliable approach for measuring climate-related impact in IFC’s projects in the meat and dairy industries. In September 2016, IFC approved a new definition for Climate Smart Agri, and Animal Protein is one of three strategic focus areas where IFC plans to reduce climate impact in emerging countries.

 

IFC and Carbon Trust share aspirations for supporting low carbon growth and mitigating climate change, and this MoU will help us leverage our respective expertise and networks. Rising population growth and per capita income are fueling demand for protein, with growth in production and consumption shifting to emerging markets. Higher productivity and efficiency are critical to reducing the footprint of different sectors including beef and dairy. We look forward to benefitting from Carbon Trust’s track record in measuring and certifying the environmental footprint of companies’ operations, supply chains, and products.

- Alzbeta Klein, Co-Director, Global Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services

International collaboration will be critical if we are to deliver the pace and scale of carbon reduction needed to ensure a rise in global temperatures is kept within 1.5 degrees. Science shows that we don’t have long, and so it is essential to work together to accelerate the solutions that will ensure we win this race against time. The private sector has the opportunity to take a leading role in turning global ambitions on climate change action into a reality. We are really pleased to be working with the IFC to explore opportunities to make a significant impact on the Brazilian beef sector. We plan to see how we can leverage the IFC’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Green Building tool and certification system for the food retail and food processing sectors to help achieve our goals and to reduce waste and environmental impact in the cold storage chain.

- Tom Delay, CEO at the Carbon Trust

While initial efforts of IFC and Carbon Trust will focus on Brazil, the two organizations will look to identify potential synergies and scope for future collaboration elsewhere in Latin America and in other regions.

 

About the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust is an independent, expert partner of leading organisations around the world, helping them contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable future.

  • We advise businesses, governments and the public sector on their opportunities in a sustainable, low carbon world.

  • We measure and certify the environmental footprint of organisations, supply chains and products.

  • We develop and deploy low carbon technologies and solutions, from energy efficiency to renewable power.

     

We have about 170 staff of 30 different nationalities, based in the UK, China, Mexico, Brazil,

South Africa and the USA. The Carbon Trust’s experts come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including engineering, business, policy and academia.

Visit http://www.carbontrust.com/

 

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our six decades of experience to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY16, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $19 billion, leveraging our capital, expertise and influence to help the private sector end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit http://www.ifc.org/