Eating less meat will reduce Earth's heat

Dr David Suzuki encourages us to do our bit to save the planet by at least cutting down on meat, especially red meat, or by taking the more significant step of adhering to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

WILL VEGANS save the world? Reading comments under climate change articles or watching the film Cowspiracy make it seem they’re the only ones who can.

Cowspiracy boldly claims veganism is

“... the only way to sustainably and ethically live on this planet.”

But, as with most issues, it’s complicated.

It’s true, though, that the environment and climate would benefit substantially if more people gave up or at least cut down on meat and animal products, especially in over-consuming Western societies.

Animal agriculture produces huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, consumes massive volumes of water and causes a lot of pollution.

Cowspiracy: As eye-opening as "Blackfish" and as inspiring as "An Inconvenient Truth".

But getting a handle on the extent of environmental harm, as well as the differences between various agricultural methods and types of livestock, and balancing that with possible benefits of animal consumption and agriculture isn’t simple.

'Ag-gag' laws expose Coalition's freedom of speech hypocrisy https://t.co/UDRIQs4eXH @IndependentAus
— Vegan Prague (@Vegan_Prague) May 25, 2015

Estimates of how much animal agriculture adds to greenhouse gases range widely, from about 14% to more than 50% of total global emissions. Agriculture exacerbates climate change in a number of ways.

Clearing carbon sinks such as forests to grow or raise food can result in net greenhouse gas increases.

Farming, especially on an industrial scale, also requires fossil fuel-burning machinery, as does processing and transporting agricultural products.

Determining the overall contribution is complicated by the fact that livestock agriculture accounts for about 9% of human-caused CO₂ emissions but far greater amounts of other greenhouse gases, which are worse in many ways, but less dangerous in others.

Is it possible to be a vegetarian when all things are subject to the transfer of matter? Dr Steve Stankevicius... https://t.co/r45TVXC6Be
— IndependentAustralia (@independentaus) May 1, 2016

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock farming produces 9% of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the global warming potential as CO₂.

It also contributes

'... 37% of all human-induced methane (23 times as warming as CO₂), which is largely produced by the digestive system of ruminants, and 64% of ammonia, which contributes significantly to acid rain.'

But methane stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years and nitrous oxide for about 114, while CO₂ remains for thousands of years.

Emissions also vary by livestock. Pigs and poultry contribute about 10% of global agricultural emissions but provide three times as much meat as cattle – which are responsible for about 40% of emissions – and use less feed. Some plant agriculture also causes global warming. Wetland rice cultivation produces methane and nitrous oxide emissions, the latter because of nitrogen fertilizer use. Different agricultural methods also have varying effects on climate.

And some people, such as the Inuit, have adapted to meat-based diets because fresh produce is scarce — and flying it in causes more emissions than hunting and eating game.

A global switch to diets that rely less on meat and more on fruit and vegetables could save up to 8 million lives by 2050. (Photo: Oxford Martin School)

The bottom line is that cutting down on or eliminating meat and other animal products from our diets is necessary for protecting humanity from runaway climate change — and from many other environmental consequences, including water scarcity, degraded ecosystems and pollution of waterways and oceans.

The FAO reports that global demand for livestock products could increase 70% by 2050 if nothing is done to slow consumption.

Worldwide meat-consumption rates show there’s room to cut down in industrialized countries, where the average person consumed 95.7 kilograms in 2015, compared to the 41.3 kilogram global average and 31.6 in developing countries. People in South Asia eat less meat than anyone, at about 7.6 kilograms in 2015.

A study by scientists at the UK's Oxford Martin School found global agriculture-related emissions could be cut by a third by 2050 if people followed simple health guidelines on meat consumption, by 63% with widespread adoption of a vegetarian diet and 70% with vegan. The authors found adopting healthier diets with less meat and animal products could also reduce global health-care costs by $1 billion a year by 2050.

Sheep: Australia's dirty secret on livestock slaughter - we kill lambs w/out stunning here as well @independentaus http://t.co/hFDqxctATS
— Sandi Keane (@Jarrapin) October 30, 2013

Although switching to better agricultural methods and encouraging local consumption could also reduce emissions, those are topics for another column. In the meantime, we can do our part by at least cutting down on meat, especially red meat, or by taking the more significant step of adhering to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Perhaps the best dietary advice for our own health and the planet’s is from food writer Professor Michael Pollan:

“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation senior editor Ian Hanington. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org