Dr Christopher Browne, a senior policy advisor to the UK government in the Department of Business, energy and industrial strategy in international climate change delivered an expert talk on “The nexus of climate change, animal health and welfare” under IDP Programme dedicated to “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence” in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, COVS, GADVASU, Ludhiana.
Global warming is the key driver of climate change on earth that is becoming a major global challenge. Dr Browne emphasised on the causes of climate change, its effect on the health and welfare of animals and humans and measures to mitigate it so as to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. He highlighted methane emissions by livestock as one of the several causes of climate change that holds significance from a veterinary point of view and is possibly overlooked. He further explained about the consequences of climate change that can occur. They range from disturbance in metabolic disorders as a result of heat stress to emergence of various infectious and vector borne diseases along with hazards like flood, wildfires and droughts. Greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals are a key factor for global climate change; hence available adaption options to reduce GHG emissions so as to limit global temperatures should be implemented with appropriate cautions. The talk was very well perceived by the students who found it to be interesting as well as informative. The speaker interacted with participants and invited questions by email. Dr S P S Ghuman, Dean-cum-PI of the IDP Project congratulated the team.
