The implications of climate change for Veterinary Services

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Climate Science

Background:

• Rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are driving global climate change, with emissions increasing significantly between 2000-2010.
• Recent decades show a clear warming trend, with each of the last four decades being successively warmer than any preceding decade since 1850.
• Continued GHG emissions will lead to further global warming and climate system alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the multifaceted impacts of climate change on livestock production.
• To identify vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America facing climate-related disasters.
• To underscore the importance of meteorological information for sustainable livestock management.

Main Methods:

• Review of climate change trends and their link to GHG emissions.
• Identification of regions and communities most susceptible to climate-related disasters affecting livestock.
• Analysis of the role of national Meteorological and Hydrological Services in supporting livestock management.

Main Results:

• Climate change, driven by GHG emissions, poses significant direct and indirect threats to livestock production globally.
• Extreme weather events (droughts, floods, storms) are increasing in frequency and intensity, impacting livestock.
• Vulnerable pastoral communities across continents are identified as high-risk areas.

Conclusions:

• Meteorological information is vital for veterinary services to support sustainable livestock management in vulnerable pastoral communities.
• Proactive use of climate and weather data can help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on livestock.
• International cooperation and data sharing are essential for addressing the global challenge of climate change in agriculture.