2024.06.28
Faeger Attended the Press Conference Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on the Announcement of the Philippine Methodology Proposal for Paddy Field Methane Reduction Utilizing JCM through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Contribution Project
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has announced a proposed methodology for reducing methane emissions from paddy fields through water management in partnership with the Philippines. This methodology utilizes the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector. Based on Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement**, this project will be the first of its kind globally if it progresses and successfully issues carbon credits.
To widely promote this initiative and encourage the use of JCM in the agricultural sector, especially for paddy field methane reduction, a press conference was held on Friday, June 28.
1. Background
In recent years, there has been a growing global demand for greenhouse gas reduction efforts in the agricultural sector, with particular attention on reducing methane emissions from paddy fields.
Since FY2023, MAFF has been funding ADB and, starting in January this year, has convened an expert committee involving the governments of the Philippines, Vietnam, international organizations, and research institutions. This committee has been working on developing specific methodologies utilizing JCM to reduce methane emissions from paddy fields in the Philippines and Vietnam.
2. Announcement of the Methodology Proposal
At the 5th Expert Committee Meeting on June 25, consensus was reached on a proposed methodology for methane reduction in Philippine paddy fields using Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)* techniques.
This is the first initiative of its kind in the agricultural sector in Asia, including Japan, to adopt the bilateral credit system. Furthermore, if private-sector projects based on this methodology proceed and credits are issued, it will mark the world’s first carbon credit issuance in the agricultural sector.
3. Press Conference on the Announcement of the Methodology Proposal
On Friday, June 28, MAFF held a press conference to broadly promote this initiative and encourage the adoption of JCM in the agricultural sector, including methane reduction in paddy fields. The event was co-hosted with the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO).
For more details, please visit the official announcement: