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Jakarta, Indonesia – April 22, 2025 – In celebration of Earth Day, the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) and Global Dairy Platform (GDP) co-hosted the ASEAN Regional Livestock Carbon Market Convening, bringing together over 130 participants from across Southeast Asia. Held in a hybrid format, the event convened stakeholders from government, private sector, and civil society to explore how carbon markets can support the transition to low-emission, sustainable livestock systems.
Opening remarks from AACM and GDP leadership highlighted the region’s untapped potential to cut methane emissions while strengthening rural livelihoods and food security. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, emphasized the urgent need for transformation in the livestock sector, one of ASEAN’s largest emission sources and a key driver of rural economies. Agriculture currently accounts for over 13% of ASEAN’s emissions, with projections showing a 1.5x increase in emissions per capita by 2040 if no action is taken.
Two expert panel sessions tackled real-world solutions, from pilot biogas initiatives to dairy-specific mitigation strategies. Discussions underscored the importance of balancing environmental integrity, farmer inclusion, and project scalability. Indonesia’s carbon ecosystem was featured as a potential model for the region, with an estimated USD $1.1 trillion in carbon revenue and the opportunity to create millions of green jobs.
A key moment of the event was the signing of a joint Earth Day statement by AACM and GDP. The statement called for fair and inclusive access to carbon markets for farmers, increased investment in climate-smart agriculture, and strong alignment with global climate targets. It highlighted the shared commitment of both organizations to support a just and effective transition toward low-emission livestock systems in the region.
In addition to the plenary sessions, participants joined breakout discussions to co-develop a joint action roadmap. These sessions focused on three critical areas: strengthening project governance, building capacity for Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV), and unlocking financing mechanisms for livestock carbon initiatives. The collaborative effort marked a significant step toward coordinated regional action on sustainable agriculture.
The convening concluded with a collective commitment to advance high-integrity livestock carbon market projects across the region, positioning Southeast Asia’s livestock sector as a vital part of the global climate solution.
