Farmed Animals

Livestock Welfare and Carbon Farming Trade-offs

Carbon sequestration programs on agricultural land create opportunities to align welfare improvements with climate benefits through improved grazing management.

Key Facts

Regenerative grazing practices including managed rotational grazing can sequester carbon while improving pasture
Higher-welfare extensive grazing systems generally have lower carbon intensity than intensive confinement
Rewilding agricultural land removes animals from production while sequestering carbon
Carbon credit markets for soil carbon provide financial incentives for grazing management changes
Some carbon programs incentivize practices that improve both carbon outcomes and animal welfare simultaneously

Welfare Considerations

Carbon farming alignment with animal welfare is sometimes but not always present. Regenerative grazing that improves soil health and carbon can simultaneously improve welfare through outdoor access and natural behavior. However, carbon incentives for permanent pasture establishment can lock in grazing systems regardless of welfare quality. Policy design that explicitly values both carbon outcomes and welfare improvements creates the best synergies.

What You Can Do

Support carbon farming programs that explicitly include welfare criteria in their standards
Advocate for alignment of agricultural climate policy with animal welfare improvements
Learn about the carbon-welfare nexus in different farming systems to advocate more effectively
Choose animal products from regenerative farms demonstrating both welfare and carbon credentials
Support rewilding programs that reduce farmed animal numbers while improving habitat for wildlife