COP26

One crisis, shared solutions

 The UK hosts the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021. 

While the livestock sector has featured heavily in public debates and policy discussions on climate change mitigation, there has been relatively little mainstream coverage given to the important role of livestock in helping LMIC communities adapt and become more resilient to climate change. At the same time, more investment is needed to support the livestock sector to adapt, and ensure livestock continues to offer people a pathway out of poverty, even as the climate changes. 

For ILRI, COP26 is an opportunity to share these views as part of a global conversation.



Livestock and climate resilience map

ILRI collaborated with SEBI Livestock, The Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security (GAAFS) and produced a map-based visualisation showing crowd-sourced case studies that highlight the diverse practices, approaches and innovations to adaptation in the livestock sector in LMICs.

Livestock and climate change solutions

Program: ILRI at COP26

Reception

Launch of Jameel Observatory 

The Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action is a new centre of excellence launched in Kenya in September by the University of Edinburgh, Save the Children, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT (co-founded by Nobel Prize laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo), and Community Jameel. The Jameel Observatory aims to harness technology and data to address the impact of climate change on hunger.

This high level reception is invite only.

Opening address for LEAP session

Accelerating climate action in the livestock sector: opportunities across systems

This event is convened by FAO LEAP partners. It aims to share knowledge about methane assessment and climate solutions. Additionally, the event will call for greater collaboration in the livestock sector to better cope with the climate ambition challenges and promote healthy ecosystems. To this end, it will present the future work of LEAP and the recently-published catalogue of applications showcasing evidence-based solutions and best practices about climate change, soil carbon storage, grassland management, water productivity and biodiversity.

View the video message by ILRI's Assistant director general Shirely Tarawali below.

 

Presentation

Anticipatory action for drought: Making a difference for pastoralists and farmers in the Horn of Africa on the Resilience Hub

Speakers will share insights on how weather forecast information and improved understanding of local communities’ needs can be used by humanitarian and development actors -and climate-vulnerable populations themselves- to significantly reduce human suffering and economic losses from climate-related shocks. They will address major outstanding program and policy questions for the Horn of Africa, including how external anticipatory action can best reinforce the adaptations of climate vulnerable populations; when during a crisis, external assistance can best strengthen existing local capacities and strategies; and what needs to be done differently for anticipatory action to be effective in fragile, conflict-affected contexts.

To add this event to your calendar, click here

Official side events

Raising Ambitions on Climate Action in the Global Dairy Sector to Achieve the Paris Agreement

This virtual event is organized by the Republic of Uruguay and Global Dairy Platform.

The dairy sector is committed to reducing GHG emissions while continuing to produce nutritious foods for six billion people and provide for the livelihoods of one billion people globally. Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is a ground-breaking, multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to accelerate climate change action across the dairy sector. This side event will provide an overview of the new climate effort, which is already supported by organizations representing more than 30 percent of global milk production.

In addition, Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, will make a presentation and Uruguay, Kenya (invited) and the United States (invited) will share how they are taking related climate action in their countries.

Side event

Towards Sustainable Livestock Systems

This event is organised by the governments of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Colombia and Kenya, and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Wageningen University and Research (WUR).

Our climate change experts

Claudia Arndt

Claudia Arndt

Senior Scientist - Team Leader of the Mazingira Centre

Rupsha R Banerjee

Rupsha R Banerjee

Scientist - Institutions and Innovation

Todd Crane

Todd Crane

Head of Delegation & Principal scientist, Climate change adaptation

Alan Duncan

Alan Duncan

Principal Livestock Scientist

Fiona Flintan

Fiona Flintan

Rangelands & Pastoralism Scientist

Birgit Habermann

Birgit Habermann

Scientist, Climate Change Technologies in Practice

Sonja Leitner

Sonja Leitner

Scientist

Cesar Patino

Cesar Patino

Senior Scientist, Ruminant Nutrition