Climate change is a hot topic these days—no pun intended—and we’re all getting in on the conversation. In fact, in 2019 environmental protection rose to one of the public’s top policy priorities. It’s not surprising that the rise in interest comes with a rise in confusing, contradicting claims and misinformation. One topic that’s brought up frequently is the relationship between animal agriculture and climate change. More and more people are choosing to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet in the name of saving the planet, but is a decrease in consumption of meat, milk, poultry and eggs really the solution to combating climate change?
What’s the relationship between animal ag and climate change?
One leading cause of climate change is the greenhouse gas effect—a process by which greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions warm up the earth. Through our day-to-day activities—such as driving, heating our homes and cooking—we release GHGs into the atmosphere, heating up the environment. Agriculture is no exception—through raising livestock, soil management and other processes, GHGs are produced.
How much does animal ag contribute to climate change?
Despite a lot of conflicting claims, animal ag and meat consumption only contribute to a small part of GHG emissions in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates about 10% of GHG emissions in 2019 came from agriculture.
Since 1990, U.S. agricultural emissions have increased by 12%—a small increase when compared to the productivity gains. The U.S. is producing 43% more food and agricultural products than it was in 1990 to keep up with the 79 million more mouths we have to feed today. In fact, even with 50 million fewer beef cattle in the U.S. today than there were in 1970, we’re still producing the same amount of beef! You can read more about how advancements in animal ag are helping mitigate climate change here.
Is a world without animal ag possible?
Based on USDA dietary guidelines, the U.S. population would not receive enough of several different essential nutrients from the foods they eat if animal-derived foods were taken out of the picture. Without animal ag, we would see an increase in deficiencies in calcium, vitamins A and B12, and other important nutrients. Some of our furry friends would suffer from a meatless world as well. While man’s best friend can survive on a plant-based diet, it can be very challenging to make sure all their nutritional needs are met without animal-derived foods. And when it comes to cats, a vegan diet is completely out of the question. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat to survive.
Will removing animal ag from the equation stop climate change?
The short answer? No. Research has shown that eliminating animal ag completely would only represent a drop of about 2.6% of total GHG emissions in the United States.
Despite what some may think, animal ag has made great strides in sustainability. Check out these facts about meat and milk’s sustainability story:
- From 2007 to 2017, U.S. dairy farmers used 30% less water, 21% less land and have achieved a 19% reduction in the carbon footprint per gallon of milk.
- Between 1961 and 2018, the U.S. beef community has reduced GHG emissions per pound of beef produced by more than 40% while also producing more than 66% more beef per animal.
- From 1960 to 2015, pig farmers in the U.S. used 75.9% less land, 25.1% less water, 7% less energy and have a 7.7% lower carbon footprint.
- The resources used to produce one dozen eggs have been cut considerably with 26% less feed, 32% less water and a 71% lower carbon footprint since 1960.
You can dig into more animal ag sustainability studies here.
So, what can you do to help impact climate change?
While reducing your consumption of meat, milk, poultry and eggs is not very helpful in curbing climate change, there are many ways we can help. If you’re worried about your environmental footprint, consider taking shorter showers, using public transportation and reducing your food waste.
You can find more ideas on lowering your environmental footprint here.
All posts are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of the Animal Ag Alliance.
