Africa Is Contending With A Climate Crisis It Did Not Create, AU-IBAR Boss & ILRI DG Argues In Favor Of Livestock Sector

Dr. Huyam Salih, the Director of African Union - Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, the Director General, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), have argued against holding Livestock sector accountable for climate change mitigation. They expressed this view in an opinion piece published by the IPS UN Bureau on Friday December 8, 2023.

In the piece, the authors denounce calls for blanket reductions in herd numbers and dietary shifts away from meat, highlighting the severe levels of undernutrition caused by inadequate intake of animal-source foods. They emphasize the global blind spot in understanding the outsized role of the livestock sector in low income countries, particularly Africa.

Photo from left - right: Dr. Huyam Salih, the Director of African Union - Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and
Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, the Director General, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

According to the authors; "Africa is contending with a climate crisis it did not create without sufficient recognition for the unique rights and needs of the world’s youngest and fastest growing population. Not only is the continent least responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, having historically produced just a tiny fraction, but it is also disproportionately impacted by the consequences of emissions generated elsewhere."

"And when climate disasters such as cyclones in Mozambique and Malawi, or droughts in the Horn of Africa strike, the subsequent humanitarian response diverts vital funds that could have otherwise supported public health, education and food security."

"Such extreme events take an enormous toll on Africa’s primary industries, including crop and animal agriculture, with the livestock sector alone losing $2 billion from the ongoing drought."

"It would therefore be preposterous to hold any of these sectors directly to account for curbing climate change – let alone one that provides food and livelihoods for hundreds of millions amidst growing climate risks."

"Yet this is precisely the scenario that unfolds when the global climate debate around the role of livestock results in calls for blanket reductions of herd numbers and wholesale dietary shifts away from meat."

The authors stressed the need for regional and national distinctions in the global climate debate, urging recognition of Africa's unique circumstances and calls for increased climate finance to support farmers and animals in adapting to new extremes. 

The continent's rising and youthful population, predominantly engaged in agriculture, underscores the importance of livestock in economic development. Despite facing challenges like changing drought cycles, solutions such as climate-resilient breeds, innovative forages, and improved infrastructure exist.

Africa's livestock sector, as a driver for development, requires urgent climate finance, a plea backed by the African Union's Agenda 2063, Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA). 

The continent's distinct challenges, devoid of overconsumption and industrialization, demand global acknowledgment and funding to harness the opportunities that livestock presents for a climate resilient future.