Unlocking climate finance to boost sustainable livestock development

Experts from SEBI-Livestock are aiming to promote sustainable livestock development by improving access to funding to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

They have launched new evidence briefs to equip decision-makers with key knowledge needed to unlock much-needed climate finance for the livestock sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Despite playing a vital role in feeding and supporting more than 1.3 billion people, climate finance support for the livestock sector in LMICs is disproportionately low due to limitations in data and evidence reporting.

Bridging the gap between climate finance and sustainable livestock development could improve food security, nutrition and livelihoods while also reducing the sector's environmental impact, the team says.

SG members in Brazil — Photo of SEBI-L staff and LD4D Solutions Group Members taken at a meeting in Brazil 3-5 September on Scaling Methane Mitigation in Sustainable Tropical Agrifood Systems at the margins of the G20 meeting of the Agriculture Working Group. From L-R: Karen Smyth (SEBI-L Programme Director), Ana Miranda (LD4D Development Manager), Greg Kohler (Climate and Clean Air Coalition), Bernard Kimoro (Government of Kenya), Andrew Bisson (USAID), and Laura Cramer (International Livestock Research Institute).

Increasing investment

One of the key barriers preventing livestock initiatives from accessing climate finance is a lack of robust information and evidence.

The three evidence briefs aim to aid efforts to overcome these barriers and improve access to climate finance among livestock-dependent communities in LMICs.

Responding to this need, the SEBI-Livestock team set up the Climate Finance & Livestock Solutions Group, comprised of 20 international experts from the Livestock Data for Decisions (LD4D) Network, which SEBI-L also convenes. The briefs are the output of several months of dedicated effort, robust discussions, and deep analysis, all aimed at mobilising vital resources for livestock development in LMICs.

The briefs highlight the potential for increased investment from the private and public sectors to provide the livestock sector in LMICs with resources to meet food security, economic and environmental goals.

Key evidence

Countries, project developers and funders need tools and insights to quantify emissions, build compelling investment cases and secure funding for livestock mitigation and adaptation projects.

The first brief highlights how increasing climate finance could enable livestock communities in LMICs to adopt proven climate-smart solutions. These include practices such as rotational grazing, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost productivity and income.

Strategies for countries to better access and deploy climate finance are outlined in the second brief. Approaches include incorporating livestock in national climate plans and standardising livestock data.

In summarising globally recognised methods for measuring emissions in livestock systems, the third brief could help improve the planning, implementation and assessment of projects seeking climate finance.

Evidence for decision-makers

Gareth Salmon, Senior Researcher at SEBI-Livestock, said: "Investors have historically viewed livestock as a high-risk sector for climate mitigation and adaptation investments, compounded by negative public perception. Investors may feel challenged by the lack of clear methodologies to quantify returns and the variable impacts compared to crop investments. That's one of the reasons why we have published the evidence briefs; by clarifying the specific risks and opportunities, we aim to support and encourage more informed action in sustainable livestock development.”

Looking ahead

The Climate Finance Solutions Group, piloted in 2024, is the first of what SEBI-Livestock hopes will be many collaborative efforts to tackle livestock data and evidence gaps.

It exemplifies LD4D's commitment to fostering dialogue and leveraging diverse expertise to address the disconnect between available livestock data and evidence, and the needs of decision-makers.

Upcoming webinar

On 30 Oct, LD4D is hosting a webinar on climate finance for livestock development. The webinar is an opportunity to explore the evidence, the challenges and proven solutions.

Speakers will include members of the LD4D Solutions Group on Climate Finance & Livestock, investors, and policy makers.

Full details and registration