About the event

Too often, climate discussions focus on the negative aspects of intensive livestock production. The livestock sector is often cited as the most intensive emitter of greenhouse gases within agriculture production systems, contributing to about 18% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from methane and nitrous oxide. However, science shows that sustainable livestock can bring adaptation, mitigation and economic growth benefits to both people and the planet. Sustainable livestock production, especially in developing countries, can contribute to building climate resilience, while boosting low emission development, and supporting food security and livelihoods.

The Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT and ILRI will host this side-event that will present evidence of the critical role that sustainable livestock can play in climate resilience and low emission development, by highlighting how examples of interventions from Africa and Latin America have benefited rural communities. It will also engage speakers and the audience in a discussion around priorities for livestock climate resilience and low-emission development in African and Latin American countries, and the investment needed from governments and the private sector to boost sustainable livestock production. 

Objectives

• Change the narrative around livestock production systems, and explore how they can offer climate resilience and low emission development opportunities
• Showcase examples of projects where livestock played a pivotal role in addressing climate-related shocks affecting rural populations
• Highlight the crucial role that livestock plays in climate resilience and low emission development opportunities in Africa and Latin America, by providing concrete examples that have benefitted the environment and rural populations
• Provide the grounds for governments and the private sector to increase investment in sustainable livestock, especially in Africa and Latin America

Speakers

Moderator: Laura Cramer, CGIAR    

Panelists:
Bernard Kimoro, Head Climate Change and Livestock Sustainability Section, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives, Kenya

Carlos Felipe Torres, Coordinator of the agricultural inventory in Colombia and the technical support of the greenhouse gas inventory network of Latin America and the Caribbean, RedINGEI  

Esther Zulu, Farmer, Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Research in Africa (AICCRA)

Dr Dereje Wakjira, Director, IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD)

Melissa D. Ho, Senior Vice President, Freshwater & Food, WWF-US     Sanne Decker, member of the Standing Committee on Environment, International Dairy Federation (IDF)

Rumbi Chakamba, Journalist, Devex

Closing remarks: Martin Kropff, Managing Director, Resilient Agri-Food Systems, CGIAR

Organized by:

Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27 (Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC), will be the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, to be held from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.