Livestock mitigation and adaptation measures to accelerate climate action in Senegal

Senegal has recognized the importance of aligning its national determined contributions (NDCs) to national policies and regulations in order to set ambitious and effective climate goals.

The livestock sector in Senegal is one of the main source of methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, but it is also widely affected by climate change. Droughts, heat waves, and extreme wet events threaten food security, animal health and the livelihoods of many pastoral communities in the country.

In February 2023, the Directorate of Livestock (DIREL) of the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production of Senegal in collaboration with FAO organized a workshop to formulate country-specific recommendations to better integrate livestock interventions in Senegal’s climate targets and policies. During the workshop, participants validated the results of the FAO study “Policy analysis to support NDC for climate action in the livestock sector”. 

“Competent services of the ministry are already mobilized for a judicious use of the recommendations and proposals in order to better prepare the participation of its departments in the implementation of the NDC”, said Mamadou Ousseynou Sakho, Secretary General of the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production (MEPA) during the workshop in Dakar, Senegal.

The workshop brought together over 80 participants from different stakeholder groups, including Senegal's Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production, and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, government agencies, academia, international organizations, UN agencies, the private sector, livestock producers, non-government and civil society organizations. The engagement of all stakeholders was key to validate the main findings of the study and to formulate recommendations for better climate actions in the country. This report will be published in coming weeks.

Both adaptation and mitigation actions are crucial to make Senegal’s livestock systems more climate friendly and resilient. Actions can include mitigation of methane from enteric fermentation; organic waste management; production of fodder crops; promotion of climate-smart livestock programs; and the collection of livestock GHG emission data.