Animal welfare advocates have urged African governments and the Africa Climate Summit to put matters of animal welfare at the heart of the climate discussions next week.
World Animal Protection and partners want African governments to recognise the climate and environmental impact of unsustainable livestock production systems.
The group called for the adoption of a transition to humane, sustainable and regenerative livestock production systems.
Ambassador Ali Mohamed, the Kenya climate envoy, said the increasing adverse climatic occurrences should ring a warning bell.
“That calls on us to let nature define the solutions for 21st Century farming and help farmers in Africa lead the transition to regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, and nutrition,” he said.
Mohamed spoke during a media briefing on the sidelines of the African Climate Summit and the African Climate Week. The meeting was hosted by the World Animal Protection.
Tennyson Williams, Director for Africa at World Animal Protection said there is a nexus between animal agriculture and climate change, and that this discussion should not be overlooked during climate discussions.
“Next week, the whole of Africa will be convening in Nairobi to seek solutions to the climate crisis. We ask them to endorse sustainable livestock farming practices and embrace African traditional food systems. They should also prioritise local communities' needs as part of sustainable practices that can guarantee a safer future,” Williams said.
The animal welfare advocates said factory farming is almost always overlooked as the climate culprit within the agriculture sector.
Factory farming is an intensive system of rearing livestock such as poultry, pigs or cattle under confined indoors controlled conditions. The system is designed to maximise production, while minimising costs.
Williams said factory farming rips down forests to plant crops for animal feed– releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
“It is factory farming that devastates wildlife habitats, displaces local communities and profits from the cruel treatment of billions of farmed animals each year,” he said.
Dr Huyian Ahmend, Director for African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources, said large-scale deforestation, habitat degradation and fragmentation are drivers of biodiversity loss and emergence of new diseases.
This is in addition to agriculture intensification, dilapidating livestock production and trade in animal species and plants.
Ahmend called for strong interlinkage between animal welfare, environment and socio-economic development.
She emphasised the need to place animal welfare at the centre stage of the Global Environment Agenda and Sustainable Development.
“It has been proven beyond doubt that sustainable and regenerative agriculture measures, designed to put farmers at the centre can improve livestock yields,” said Ismael Faheny, adviser for water and environmental management at the office of the President.
“They can also turn farmland and pastures into carbon sinks, reverse forest loss, optimise the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers, and rethink global and local supply chains to be more sustainable. Kenya and Africa are the best partners for this paradigm shift.”
Kenya will be co-hosting the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) with the Africa Union Commission in Nairobi from September 4-6.
The summit will provide a platform to deliberate on the nexus of climate change, Africa’s development reality, and the need to push for increased investment in climate action globally and specifically in Africa.
In a communique that will be presented to the climate envoy present at the event, the animal welfare group called for the update of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
This should include targets for livestock farming greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting both mitigation and adaptation actions.
The group also called for increasing policy and financial resources for just, humane, and sustainable livestock farming that focuses on agroecological and regenerative approaches.
“We emphasise locally relevant humane, sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems. This includes sustainable food production, nutrition, and dietary shifts towards less industrialised food production and healthy consumption patterns,” the communique stated.
