Namibia took another important step in strengthening its climate reporting efforts. Under the framework of the UNFCCC, the country is currently preparing its Second Biennial Transparency Report (BTR2), together with the combined Sixth National Communication and Third Biennial Transparency Report (NC6/BTR3), supported by funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Livestock, one of the cornerstones of Namibia’s agricultural sector, has also been identified as a major contributor to the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The most recent national GHG inventory, submitted to the UNFCCC in December 2024, highlighted that due to limited data availability, livestock emissions had to be calculated using tier 1 methods, which rely on generalized global assumptions. While this provided a baseline, it did not reflect the full realities of Namibia’s production systems.

Recognizing the importance of improving the accuracy of its reporting, the Biennial Transparency Report Project Management Unit (BTR PMU), together with the GHG working group members from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform, initiated a dedicated livestock data collection exercise in the Kavango East and West Regions.

From the 15th to the 27th of September, the team engaged directly with local farmers to collect data on livestock weights and manure management practices. Beyond data collection, the exercise also served as a capacity-building effort—farmers were trained in the use of weighing scales, equipping them with practical tools to continue gathering reliable data.

This activity not only marked progress toward more robust and accurate national GHG inventories but also demonstrated Namibia’s commitment to its obligations under the Paris Agreement. By grounding climate reporting in locally collected data, the country is strengthening both its transparency framework, and the evidence base for future climate action.