Brazil faces a methane challenge: Sustainable livestock farming is key to mitigating global warming.

This 6% increase over four years has raised concerns among environmental groups, who warn that the impacts can be mitigated if sustainable strategies are adopted in the agricultural sector.

Livestock and methane: a crucial link Brazil must transform

According to the report, enteric fermentation in cattle   (gases produced by animals during digestion) was responsible for the emission of 14.5 million tons of methane in 2023.

This represents 69% of the country's total population and is explained by the enormous size of the Brazilian herd: 238.6 million heads, the second largest in the world after India.

The agricultural sector as a whole accounts for 75.6% of methane emissions, followed by:

• Municipal solid waste: 14.6%
• Forest fires: 6.3%
• Energy sector: 2.6%

How to reduce methane emissions without reducing livestock production?

Experts suggest improving animal diets, reducing fattening periods, and investing in cattle genetics.

Gabriel Quintana, a climate scientist at the Imaflor Institute, said Brazil could cut its emissions by 25% by 2035, even with growing livestock numbers, if it implements sustainable practices such as:

• Optimization of animal diets
• Reducing slaughter time
• Genetic improvement of livestock

These measures will reduce environmental impacts without compromising productivity and will contribute to the implementation of the Global Methane Commitment, signed by Brazil in 2021 along with more than 150 other countries.

Methane: The invisible gas with a powerful impact on the climate

Although methane has a shorter atmospheric lifetime than carbon dioxide (10 to 20 years), its short-term global warming potential is 28 times higher. Therefore, strategically reducing its emissions could yield more immediate results in the fight against climate change.

 The Climate Observatory estimates that reducing methane emissions by 45% could prevent global temperature rise by 0.3°C by 2040.

Brazil and Climate Commitments: Between Promises and the Need for Action

The country has committed to cutting methane emissions by 30% by 2035, but has made little progress so far.

Claudio Angelo, international policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory, warned that Brazil had not taken concrete steps to implement the commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow.

Inaction jeopardizes the country's climate goals and its international standing.

Green Economy and Livestock Traceability: Axes of Regional Debate

EFE is organizing the III Latin American Forum on Green Economy on September 4 in São Paulo with the support of ApexBrasil, Norte Energía, IBMEC, Imaflora and the Climate Observatory.

One of the central topics will be livestock traceability, which is key to ensuring responsible and transparent MEAT production practices.