Nyamira: A new report has highlighted the significant contribution of factory farms to global greenhouse gas emissions, revealing that these practices account for at least 11 percent of the total. The report, titled “How Factory Farming Emissions are Worsening Climate Disasters in the Global South,” was released by the World Animal Protection (WAP) and sheds light on the impact of intensive animal agriculture on small-holder farming, vital to the livelihoods and food security of 1.7 billion people.
According to Kenya News Agency, Human and Sustainable Agriculture Campaigns Manager at WAP, factory farming releases a substantial amount of greenhouse gases, contributing to exacerbating droughts, floods, and other climate disasters, particularly in the African context. He expressed these concerns during the virtual launch of the report, highlighting the environmental, health, and animal welfare costs associated with the rapid global expansion of factory farming.
The report’s findings come as government leaders, business and finance heads, and representatives of civil society convene at the COP climate conference in Dubai, focused on accelerating the transition to a clean-energy future. WAP is urging the COP 28 meeting to direct adaptation, loss, and damage finance towards the most affected smallholders.
Yamo emphasized the economic toll of climate-driven disasters, projecting that by 2050, costs could exceed USD 1 trillion annually, with factory farms responsible for a significant portion of this expense. He called for a 10-year moratorium on new factory farms and a redirection of finances towards more sustainable, humane, and eco-friendly farming practices.
The report also urges governments to develop policies and contributions that address the role of livestock production systems in climate change. Yamo advocated for an end to subsidies for factory farming, reallocating these funds to support sustainable and humane agricultural systems.
Tennyson Williams, Director for Africa at WAP, pointed out that factory farming is a major obstacle to achieving the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement and poses a threat to a climate-safe future. He highlighted the interconnectedness of animal cruelty and climate change, stating that the eradication of animal cruelty in farming is essential to mitigating climate change.
The report also warns of the surge in factory farming in Africa, driven by a 30 percent rise in meat demand. This increase is expected to exacerbate climate-related disasters and replace sustainable, agroecological pastoralists and independent farming systems. African countries, as per the report, will need to spend USD 53 billion annually by 2030 to adapt to the climate crisis.
WAP stresses the need for agriculture and sustainable agriculture discussions to be a central part of COP 28, ensuring that commitments made around climate funding in 2017 are realized to address the climate crisis effectively.