REPORT: Are livestock always bad for the planet?

Are livestock always bad for the planet? Are livestock bad for the planet? Rethinking the protein transition and climate change debate. by Ella Houzer and Ian Scoones
PASTRES, September 2021

This report warns that the dominant picture of livestock’s impacts on climate change has been distorted by faulty assumptions that focus on intensive, industrial farming in rich countries. Millions of people worldwide who depend on extensive livestock production, with relatively lower climate impacts, are being ignored by debates on the future of food.

The report identifies ten flaws in the way that livestock’s climate impacts have been assessed, and suggests how pastoralists could be better included in future debates about food and the climate.

The report is published by the European Research Council-supported PASTRES programme and 13 collaborating organisations

A launch event to discuss the report was held on 27 September.

Speakers included Ian Scoones (PASTRES), Veronique Ancey (UN FAO), Fernando Garcia Dory (Rangelands Initiative/European Shepherds Network), Fiona Flintan (International Livestock Research Institute) and Engin Yılmaz (Alliance for Mediterranean Nature & Culture/Yolda Initiative). The event was held as part of the Italian government’s All4Climate series ahead of the COP26 pre-summit.

Download the accompanying briefing: Are livestock always bad for the planet?

Information sheets:

• Info sheet 1: Livestock and climate change: the benefits of a systems approach
• Info sheet 2: Ten flaws in mainstream assessments of livestock and climate change
• Info sheet 3: Putting livestock-keepers at the centre of the climate-livestock debate