Stakeholders and governments from different parts of the world are expected to converge in Nairobi Kenya from 4th – 6th September 2023 for the Africa Climate Summit after a series of Pre-Africa Climate Summit events and discussions from 1st September. Among key issues to be discussed in the Pre-Africa Climate Summit are the impacts of fossil fuels in the country and some causes of climate change experienced in Africa.
Although Africa had the chance to host the COP 26 summit in Egypt, stakeholders from the World Animal Protection and Partners feel like the discussions are yet to bear fruit, given that livestock impacts on climate change were not given priority.
They have called upon African governments during the forthcoming Africa Climate Summit 2023 to acknowledge the climate and environmental impact of unsustainable livestock production systems and push for the adoption of a transition to humane, sustainable, and regenerative livestock production systems.
During the pre-climate media briefing held today, the animal welfare advocates noted that Factory farming is almost always overlooked as the climate culprit within the agriculture sector. Yet it’s factory farming that rips down forests to plant crops for animal feed – releasing carbon into the atmosphere. And is notable that factory farming devastates wildlife habitats, displaces local communities, and profits from the cruel treatment of billions of farmed animals each year.
According to, Tennyson Williams, Director for Africa at World Animal Protection, “There is a nexus between animal agriculture and climate change, and 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, embrace African traditional food systems, and prioritize local communities’ needs as part of sustainable practices that can guarantee a safer future.”
Speaking at the media briefing, Dr. Huyian Ahmend Salih The Director for AU – IBAR noted that large-scale deforestation, habitat degradation and fragmentation, agriculture intensification, dilapidating livestock production, and trade in animal species and plants are drivers of biodiversity loss and the emergence of new diseases.
She called for strong interlinkage between animal welfare, environment, and socio-economic development in the Pre-Africa Climate Summit the Summit itself as she emphasized the need to place Animal Welfare at the center stage of the Global Environment Agenda and Sustainable Development.
While receiving the communique, Ismael Faheny, Advisor for Water and Environmental Management at the office of the President commended World Animal Protection and its partners for promoting sustainable livestock production systems to mitigate climate change.
It has been proven beyond doubt that sustainable and regenerative agriculture measures, designed to put farmers at the center can improve livestock yields and turn farmland and pastures into carbon sinks, reverse forest loss, optimize the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and rethink global and local supply chains to be more sustainable. Kenya and Africa are the best partners for this paradigm shift.” He concluded.
The communique called upon African governments and the African Climate Envoys to;
- Acknowledge the climate and environmental impact of unsustainable, cruel, and unethical livestock production systems and push for a transition to humane, sustainable, and regenerative production systems.
- Update nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to include targets for livestock farming greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting both mitigation and adaptation actions; increasing policy and financial resources for just, humane, and sustainable livestock farming that focuses on agroecological and regenerative approaches.
- Champion for food sovereignty in Africa, which is the right of people to control their own food systems and supporting small-scale livestock farmers, promoting local food systems, and ensuring that agricultural policies prioritize the needs of local communities and the environment. This also involves addressing corporate consolidation in food systems, particularly within industrial animal agriculture.
- Mainstream and recognize the critical role that African traditional food systems (small-scale farmers), play in sustainable and agroecological approaches that provide food, protect our environment, and ensure a climate-safe future.
- Emphasize locally relevant humane, sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems, which include sustainable food production, nutrition, and dietary shifts towards less industrialized food production and healthy consumption patterns.
By TERRY NJENGA
