Meat has become a staple source of food for humans in recent decades. Meat consumption since the 1960s has increased by 40% in the U.S. and almost 60% world wide. Two of the main factors for the increase in consumption has been the high population growth and the increase in annual wages for the average person. With an extremely high demand for meat worldwide, farmers have been forced to increase the number of animals they breed and slaughter. Unfortunately, this incredible rise in livestock has been very harmful to the environment and has been a large contributor to climate change.
Problems with Meat Production
A common misconception in regards to climate change and the meat industry is that the process of meatpacking is unhealthy and hurts the environment. Though that is not completely false and there are many ethical concerns with that (Don’t worry we aren’t PETA), the main problem between the meat industry and climate lies in the sheer amount of livestock in farms around the world.
How Animals Release Methane
If you recall from our blog about greenhouse gases, methane is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas behind carbon dioxide. One of the largest producers of methane is livestock. In fact, livestock contribute almost a third of all methane in our atmosphere. To learn more about methane and other greenhouse gasses and their effect on climate change you can check out our blog here, but basically all you have to know is that an excess amount of methane in our atmosphere is bad. You’re probably asking, how do animals produce methane anyway? Afterall, humans are much more abundant than cows so how do they produce so much more methane than we do?
Cattle and some of our other favorite forms of meat like goat and deer are in a category called ruminant animals. These animals are grouped because they have a special digestive process in which they digest food that is indigestible by non-ruminants like humans. Ruminants are able to digest this food because they have 4 different compartments in their stomach contrary to the 1 compartment humans have. One of these compartments, the rumen, allows ruminant animals to store partially digested food and let it ferment there. Then they regurgitate the food and then finish the digestive process. As food ferments in the rumen, methane is produced. That methane is then let out into the atmosphere through cow burps. The digested food is also excreted by the animal where it decomposes and releases more methane (yes, farts).
About a century ago, when there wasn’t as much livestock, this small amount of methane that was being released had little to no harm on the environment, but now, as meat and livestock have become so coveted and therefore much more abundant in our world, the amount of methane all these animals are releasing is adding up quickly. Since 1960, the amount of domesticated cattle in the world has increased by 33%, totaling over 1 billion today. That means the amount of methane released by the cattle population has increased by 33%, and that doesn’t account for all the other ruminant animals that have increased in population as well. And it’s not just ruminant animals either, pigs and poultry also release methane through manure. On average, livestock releases 7.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases annually, that’s approximately 14.5% of total man-made emissions.
Livestock’s Effect on Environment
And it’s not just the methane animals release, another problem comes from the destruction of land to make way for more livestock. Animal agriculture(livestock and animal feed) is a significant driver of deforestation. As the demand for meat increases, farmers need more land to create space for their livestock. Even worse, farmers need the extra land to produce feed for their livestock. This is especially bad because once animals eat all the feed the land has to give, the land is dried up and barren, meaning it cannot be farmed on again. This means that land is basically unusable. Between the release of greenhouse gases and the destruction of land, the increase in livestock production has been a huge factor in climate change.
Why People Still Eating More Meat
The main cause for the rise in demand for meat has been the world’s rapidly increasing population. Animal products like beef have proven to be effective in feeding a large group of people for a relatively small price and thus cattle farming has become much more popular. In fact, meat consumption worldwide is estimated to increase by 1.4% per year through 2023. Overall, population growth has accounted for 54% of the increase in meat consumption. Countries with booming populations like China have been leading the increase in meat consumption.
It’s not just the growing population, however. Per person consumption of meat is also increasing rapidly. This increase is largely due to changing consumer preferences and income growth for the average consumer.
Solutions
How exactly can we stop climate change caused by meat consumption? Unlike many other causes of climate change, we can’t exactly take meat out of our lives because it’s just not realistic. Instead, as a population we have to decrease the amount of meat we eat per year. Eating a little meat every week is fine, but eating a whole steak everyday is bad for the environment (not to mention unhealthy).
Another way we can reduce the amount of meat we eat is through meat substitutes. Meat substitutes have become extremely popular in recent years, especially with the vegetarian population. Companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have been leading the charge in plant-based substitutes for meat products. Many fast food chains have even introduced these companies’ products onto their menu.
Finally, the best thing you can do as an individual is to know where your meat comes from. Some more environmentally friendly farms and farmers use grazing practices that are better for the environment like rotational grazing where land for cattle isn’t ruined after use. Though you won’t know exactly how your meat is produced, it’s good to know if it is shipped from another country or if it is from a large corporation. On average, beef from foreign countries, though more expensive, is better because they are open range and grass fed. Unfortunately, many American companies wrongly label meat from other countries as their own, taking profits from companies that really deserve your money.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, meat production and livestock are a large contributor to climate change, but unlike some other causes of climate change, we can do something about this problem. Whether it is eating a little less meat every week, or doing thorough research on where your favorite brand of meat comes from, you can make a difference and come one step closer to stopping climate change.