13. CLIMATE ACTION

CLIMATE ACTION

SDG #13 focuses on one of the important efforts that is currently being implemented by the global business community: combating climate change and its impacts. SDG Target 13.2 emphasises the importance of establishing and operationalizing policies and plans at all organisational levels that have integrated climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. Relating it back to the soy industry, if soy supply chains are to become both cleaner and more resilient, strategies must be introduced at the company level to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, foster climate resilience, and lower the development of greenhouse gas emissions22 .

The RTRS Standard contributes to furthering the progress on SDG 13 through instructing producers to make efforts to reduce emissions and increase sequestration of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) on the farm, including using fertilisers in accordance with professional guidelines and limiting natural land conversion as part of expansion of soy cultivation.

SDG 13: Case study

Title: ZERO means ZERO

Organisation: RTRS

Location: Global

Case: RTRS offers a soy certification standard with zero deforestation and zero conversion explicitly stated in its criteria. This means that no conversion of any natural land, steep slopes and areas designated by law to serve the purpose of native conservation and/or cultural and social protection is allowed. To guarantee zero deforestation and zero conversion in soy production, producers must provide objective evidence during audits - conducted by accredited and independent third parties (certification bodies) - showing compliance with the requirements of the production standard; this includes aerial pictures, maps and other satellite imagery to prove that no deforestation or conversion has taken place. here are certified producers located in Argentina, Brazil, India, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

SDG TARGETS AND RELATED RTRS INDICATORS

SDG Targets

13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

RTRS Indicators

RTRS: 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 5.5.5

RTRS certified producers are required to record their total use of fossil fuels over time for all activities related to soy production (including field operations and on-farm transportation, as well as fossil fuel volume per hectare and unit of product (4.3.1). In case of an increase in the intensity of fossil fuel use, a justification for the increase or an action plan to reduce use must be provided (4.3.2).

Similarly, producers are to monitor soil organic matter to quantify changes in soil carbon and take steps to improve or mitigate any negative trends (4.3.3).

Further opportunities for increasing carbon sequestration are to be identified and implemented by soy producers, with a focus on restoration of native vegetation and forest plantations (4.3.4). The Standard further seeks to increase the sequestration of GHGs by limiting the conversion of natural land in order to expand soy cultivation (4.4.1, 4.4.2) and fostering environmentally friendly use of fertilisers (5.5.5).