The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) is very pleased to announce that three new member countries have joined the Alliance – Uganda, eSwatini and Ethiopia
In December 2018, Uganda and the Kingdom of eSwatini became members of the Alliance.
In Uganda, the agricultural sector is the most vulnerable sector to climate change. The sector contributes over 50 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it a high priority sector for both climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries recognises that the GRA’s objectives align with those of Uganda in relation to food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. Working with the GRA will contribute to knowledge sharing, synergies between adaptation and mitigation, technical and scientific exchanges, and the promotion of more efficient agricultural systems.
eSwatini is committed to a national climate change agenda, including sustainable development goals, and identifies agriculture and food security as key areas of concern. eSwatini is aligned with the Global Research Alliance Charter and fully endorses it. Through collaborative efforts eSwatini and the GRA will work towards enhanced climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The GRA is also very pleased to welcome Ethiopia as our newest member country. In Ethiopia the agriculture and livestock sector is of vital importance in addressing climate change and is central to Ethiopia’s vision and objectives for a climate resilient green economy. The Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia is the central governmental actor in assisting Ethiopia’s transition to a climate resilient green economy and in the implementation of Ethiopia’s Livestock Master Plan. Previously, representatives from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and Addis Ababa University attended the 2012 regional capability building workshop in Kenya. In 2014, participants from Ethiopia also took part in the intensive two weeks course “Introduction to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measurement”, organised by the Livestock Research Group of the GRA. The Alliance is looking forward to working with Ethiopia to develop and improve sustainable farming practices.
The 56 member countries now participating in the activities of the Global Research Alliance are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.