Climate Crisis and the Livestock Industry

In fact, global warming, which has existed for years but has recently reached a level whose effects on our lives cannot be ignored, has now become a climate emergency for our nature that requires immediate action.

The collective struggle of society and the transformation of individuals' lifestyles are the most important steps to be taken to slow down the momentum of the climate crisis, which is increasingly out of control. “How big an impact can my individual lifestyle have on a planet inhabited by 8 billion people?” You may think, but even the destructive effects of the products that enter our kitchen daily on our environment can be unpredictable. Let's examine together the effects of our eating habits on our environment.

People generally obtain most of the basic nutrients they need from animal foods. We can combine the production of the most commonly consumed meat and dairy foods under the umbrella of the livestock industry and examine their effects on climate and nature. The livestock industry is one of the leading sectors in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Livestock farming, along with feed production, animal manures and the animals' own emissions, accounts for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, forests converted to pasture land for animal grazing are a missed opportunity to capture carbon released into the atmosphere. If this deforestation could be reversed, these forests would act as a carbon sink and absorb large amounts of climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere.

Another negative effect of animal husbandry on nature is that it uses disproportionately large amounts of natural resources. The production of animal products generally requires much more water than plant-based foods. So much so that animal husbandry is responsible for 29% of global water consumption. In addition, more than a quarter of the world's entire land area is used to graze livestock or grow food for them. To produce just 1 kg of chicken meat, 3.2 kg of products are required, which are products suitable for human consumption on their own.

So what can an individual do to combat the climate crisis? According to a recent study in the US, if everyone reduced their meat consumption by 25%, annual greenhouse gas emissions would decrease by 1%. So, assuming that the average person consumes meat once a day, we see that he can easily achieve this goal by not consuming meat products only 2 days a week. Additionally, statistics show us that if everyone followed a plant-based diet, we would need 75% less farmland than we use today, as less land is needed to grow plant food ready for direct consumption than to feed animals raised for subsequent human consumption. This is an area equivalent to the United States, China, Europe and Australia combined.

As a result, small changes in your diet can play a big role in transforming our world into a sustainable planet and responding to the climate emergency. Moreover, you do not have to give up your taste and the quality of your food while doing this. You can renew our world along with your habits by trying Newer Foods products instead of meat for dinner tonight.

Source:
https://www.scientificamerican.com
https://www.vox.com
https://youtu.be/o8vgikf-ZlU?si=e1AcSNWCEuYRHF67
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk

Edited by:
Ferah Yıldırım