Climate finance meets livestock development: key takeaways from September's global dialogues
From the arid pastures of Brazil to the bustling streets of New York City, two recent gatherings brought global attention to the critical intersection of sustainable livestock and climate finance.
This September, LD4D members took part in important dialogues that are shaping the future of sustainable livestock.
Informing the G20 Agriculture working group
The first event, "Scaling Methane Mitigation in Sustainable Tropical Agrifood Systems," held in Brasilia from 3-5 September, was co-hosted by the Ministerio da Agricultura, the Climate & Clean Air Coalition, Clim-Eat, The World Bank, and Instituto 17. Ana Miranda, LD4D’s Development Manager, joined a panel alongside experts from government, research, and finance to explore innovative livestock practices, policy roadmaps, and climate finance mechanisms for tropical agriculture.
A highlight of the Brasilia workshop was the opportunity to share the latest work from LD4D's Climate Finance & Livestock Development Solutions Group. Our new evidence briefs, launched that week, provide crucial insights on quantifying emissions and building compelling investment cases for livestock projects. These resources aim to open new opportunities for public finance institutions, project applicants, and policymakers seeking funding for livestock mitigation and adaptation initiatives.
Key outcomes from the Brasilia event included:
Exploration of cutting-edge methane abatement techniques in livestock
Collaborative development of actionable methane roadmaps
Introduction of tools to unlock climate finance for sustainable livestock development
The workshop’s recommendations will be presented to the G20 Agriculture Working Group, potentially influencing policy at the highest levels.
Livestock development at Climate Week NYC
The second event, "Pastures of Plenty: Sustainable Livestock Solutions for Climate, Nature, and People," a side event at Climate Week NYC on 25 September further expanded on these themes. Hosted by the Advancing Livestock for Climate (ALive4Climate) Alliance, this event explored the diverse narratives surrounding livestock production and its potential to contribute to climate mitigation, biodiversity protection, and improved livelihoods. LD4D was represented by Solutions Group member Jeannette Gurung of WOCAN (Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management). Jeannette joined a panel discussion on climate finance for the livestock sector, and highlighted how finance can help drive sustainable and gender inclusive livestock development.
Following the panel discussions, LD4D held a special briefing for participants, highlighting the key insights from the recently launched evidence briefs. Solutions Group member Greg Kohler, from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, described the critically low levels of climate finance reaching livestock systems in LMICs, and highlighted success stories from Kenya, Uruguay, and Tanzania, which have effectively leveraged climate finance through supportive national policies. We were encouraged by the enthusiastic reception from audience members, who recognized these briefs as filling a crucial gap in the sector.
Revisit the event
Cross cutting issues
Several key themes emerged across both events:
Diversity of livestock systems: Both events highlighted the variety of livestock production systems, from pastoralism to commercial operations. This diversity requires tailored approaches to sustainability and climate finance.
Climate finance innovation: A major focus was on developing financial mechanisms to support the transition to sustainable livestock systems. LD4D’s work on evidence-based tools for accessing climate finance was well-received in this context.
Holistic approaches: Discussions emphasized the need to consider climate, biodiversity, nutrition, and socio-economic factors including gender in developing sustainable livestock solutions.
Collaborative solutions: The importance of partnerships between researchers, financiers, policymakers, and producers was a recurring theme, underlining the need for coordinated efforts to drive change.
Technology and innovation: Both events showcased new techniques in methane abatement and sustainable livestock management, emphasizing the role of innovation in achieving climate goals.
These events reinforced that the intersection of climate finance and sustainable livestock development is crucial. LD4D’s work in developing evidence-based tools and methodologies is playing a key role in bridging this gap, by mobilising the evidence that cna unlock the financial resources needed to transform livestock systems for a more sustainable future.
We are encouraged by the collaborations formed and insights gained from these events. LD4D remains committed to furthering the dialogue and developing actionable evidence that can drive change in the livestock sector, contributing to global climate goals while ensuring food security and supporting livelihoods around the world.
