"India Gears Up to Lead Global Livestock Decarbonisation"

PNN
New Delhi [India], April 10: The Carbon Markets Association of India (CMAI) and the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) are set to co-host the Regional Livestock Carbon Market Convening on May 7, 2025, at Le Meridien, New Delhi. This event, supported by the Gates Foundation, marks a significant step in integrating India's livestock and dairy sectors into carbon markets, setting the stage for a global convening in Q4 2025. The program is set to attract global stakeholders and top carbon credit buyers.

This landmark event aims to explore the integration of India's vast livestock sector into carbon markets, presenting an opportunity for sustainable emissions reduction, methane mitigation, and rural social, economic, and environmental growth. This convening is a critical step in positioning India not just as the global dairy leader, but as a pioneer in livestock sector decarbonisation--laying the foundation for a future Dairy Net Zero roadmap.
India's dairy and livestock sectors are both the largest in the world. They play a crucial role in global food security but are also significant sources of methane emissions. India has over 536 million livestock, including over 300 million bovines and over 74 million sheep, producing 220 million tonnes of milk annually, contributing to 23% of global milk production. The sector plays a vital role in food security and rural livelihoods, employing over 150 million people, yet is also one of the top contributors to agricultural methane emissions. Livestock emissions make up over 55% of India's agricultural GHG footprint, and Scope 3 emissions account for more than 80% of the total sectoral emissions.
Methane from enteric fermentation and manure management accounts for nearly 45% of the country's agricultural GHG emissions. Scope 3 emissions, which are generated across supply chains, makie up over 80% of the sector's total footprint.
With the carbon market gaining traction as a key financing tool to accelerate climate action, the livestock sector has emerged as a critical area for high-integrity carbon credit generation. Globally, livestock methane projects are increasingly attracting interest from carbon finance, especially when backed by robust data, monitoring systems, and sustainable farming interventions. India is uniquely positioned to capitalise on this momentum.
The Regional Livestock Carbon Market Convening in New Delhi marks the next step in a series of global dialogues, following successful events in Nairobi (2024) and Indonesia (2025), designed to forge practical, scalable climate solutions for livestock systems. With CMAI's experience and expertise in dealing with carbon credits-related operations, including the promotion of sustainable agriculture, GDP's partnership with CMAI will give a much-needed local boost to the agenda.
It will be one of the largest gatherings of carbon market experts, dairy sector stakeholders, and policymakers in Asia dedicated to charting a future for livestock decarbonisation.
Delegates can register their interest in the event by filling out this form: Event Registration Link
The event will explore:
* Livestock's role in carbon markets: opportunities and challenges for generating high-integrity carbon credits
* Methane mitigation strategies: including feed innovation, manure management, and biogas solutions
* Policy and governance: aligning national carbon markets with global standards
* Carbon finance: investment pathways to support livestock carbon projects and benefit smallholder farmers
The convening will bring together all stakeholders, including farmers, representatives, policymakers, the private sector, carbon market experts, and financial institutions to develop strategies for leveraging carbon markets to drive sustainability in the livestock industry.
Manish Dabkara, President of CMAI, said, "India has the potential to release a new generation of high-integrity carbon credits from its dairy and livestock sector. With the right policy signals and methodologies in place, carbon finance can catalyse both methane reductions and rural prosperity."
Donald Moore, Executive Director of GDP, said "India stands at a pivotal moment where its global leadership in dairy can translate into leadership in climate action. By integrating the livestock sector into carbon markets, we can not only address emissions but also unlock new opportunities for rural prosperity and sustainable development. This convening with CMAI is a vital step in building the practical tools, policy frameworks, and financing mechanisms needed to turn climate ambition into tangible outcomes for farmers, consumers, and the planet."
Rohit Kumar, Secretary General of CMAI, stated, "With India's dairy sector growing at an annual rate of 5.62%, there is immense potential to integrate it into carbon markets. This convening will address policy, finance, and technical barriers to ensure a structured and equitable approach for smallholder farmers."
The event will kick off with an invite-only networking reception on May 6, 2025, followed by a full-day convening featuring expert panels, interactive discussions, and technical workshops on May 7. The outcome will be a roadmap for scaling livestock-based carbon credit initiatives in India.
About Carbon Markets Association of India (CMAI):
The Carbon Markets Association of India (CMAI) is a leading not-for-profit industry group driving India's transition to a net-zero future by decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors. Collaborating with key ministries like MoEFCC, MoP, MNRE and NITI Aayog, CMAI provides policy advocacy, capacity building, and knowledge support. It plays a vital role in initiatives like the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and Green Credit Programme (GCP). With over 3,500 supported projects, reducing 220 million tons of GHG emissions, CMAI leads efforts in carbon markets, sustainable fuels, and circular economy initiatives through the India SAF Alliance, India EPR Alliance, and more.
Know More: https://cma-india.in/
For any queries, connect with us: secretary@cma-india.in or call us: +91 98117 79580
About Global Dairy Platform (GDP):
Global Dairy Platform's membership of dairy companies, associations, scientific bodies and other partners collaborate pre-competitively to lead and build evidence on dairy's role in the diet, and show the sector's commitment to responsible food production.
For more than a decade, GDP has led the dairy sector's collaborative efforts to encourage the appropriate intake of nutrient-rich dairy foods and demonstrate the sector's role in sustainable agriculture.
Know More: https://globaldairyplatform.com/
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)