The link is logical. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Livestock contribute to climate change by releasing methane gas. So, when a forest is cut down to make a cattle pasture, the net outcome is more greenhouse gases (GHGs)entering, and staying in the atmosphere than being absorbed.By eating meat and other products derived from animals, consumers are contributing to climate change in the same way as consumers who drive cars that run on gas--they are increasing the amount of GHGs that enter the atmosphere. Now, the United Nations Environment Programme's (ENEP) International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management has issued a new report, "Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production," that Felicity Carus reports for the Guardian online, calls for a shift towards diets that call for less animal consumption in order to curb the impact raising livestock and the human diet has on climate change. This is particularly necessary as the human population is expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050.
The report states, "'Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. . . "' The report's lead author, Professor Edgar Hertwich says in the Carus article, "Biomass and crops for animals are as damaging as [burning] fossil fuels."'
According to Louise Gray's article in the Telegraph online, the report also notes that agricultural production "accounts for 70 per cent of global freshwater production, 38 per cent of land use and 19 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions."'
The report does note that diets are not like fossil fuel consumption for energy, in terms of the ability to switch towards viable alternatives. The report states, "'A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products [,]"' and more like a vegan diet. Such a dramatic cultural change in the way the world eats may be tough for most to swallow.
On top of the need to change global diets away from animal consumption and the need to reduce agriculture's impact on climate change, is the reality that more food must be produced over the coming decades to meet the demands of population growth. The need for more food will likely call on more lands to be converted for agricultural uses. Which means the debate over agriculture and climate change will be sure to continue and be a major part of any meaningful international global climate change reduction pact.
To read the Carus article in the Guardian online, click here.
To read the Gray article in the Telegraph online, click here.
To read the UN Report, click here.
Posted: 06/04/10
