Summary:

Animal farming, along with deforestation is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and almost 25% of human-caused global warming can be attributed to agricultural-related activities [1]. Thus, climate change and veganism are closely related.

With the food demand expected to increase by 70% in the coming decades due to the ever growing population, would the global warming process intensify?[2].

Climate Change Explained

To put it simply, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, heat production, deforestation etc. are responsible for emissions of certain greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

These gases are capable of trapping heat emitted from the sun and thereby warming the planet.

The pie-chart below indicates the greenhouse gas emissions by source and their contribution to global warming.


GHG Emission Sources

As per IPCC’s report (UN’s Climate Change related department), the burning of fossil fuels and heat production is the biggest culprit [1].

Livestock farming and Land-use changes (emissions due to deforestation and soil erosion) take the second spot with 24% of the total emissions as highlighted in the chart below [1].

Source: IPCC Climate Change report, 2014

However, one particular study from world watch claimed that the above agricultural related emission estimates were modest and as per their research, almost 50% of the total greenhouse gas emissions could be attributed to agricultural practices [3].

In 2017, for example, 32 billion animals were approximately used in the livestock and dairy industry.

Greenhouse gases are not only emitted through animal respiration but also from the following activities –

Energy consumption (heating/ cooling of the facilities).

Enteric fermentation.

Packaging & processing (from raw meat to finished product).

Transportation.

Having said that, GHG emissions vary as per the food item produced and certain items release more GHG than others.

Emissions as per agricultural items

The below graph indicates the greenhouse emissions (expressed in kg CO 2 -eq) for producing a single kg of protein of the following food items

Source: FAO gleam results, 2010

As seen above, buffalo meat has the highest GHG emission intensity, with an average of 404 kg CO 2 -eq per kg of protein, followed by beef or cattle meat with an average of 295 kg CO 2 -eq per kg of protein.

To put the numbers in perspective, the amount of greenhouse gas released while producing a single kg of cattle meat, for example, could be equivalent to the GHG emissions from the following activities [11].

0 Pounds of coal burned 0 Miles driven on a car 0 Thousand smartphones charged

The amount of cattle meat processed annually is around 65,000,000,000 kg [5].

The below map shows greenhouse gas emissions by country caused due to livestock farming and land-use changes segmented by animal sources.

Source: FAO gleam results, 2010

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