Animal agriculture and climate change

Abstract

This chapter explores the magnitude of the contribution made by animal agriculture to climate change, and the steps that could be taken to reduce or eliminate this contribution in an ethical way. All ruminant animals produce methane gas in the gut when they break down carbohydrates and amino acids. This is released through the mouth and anus in different proportions depending on the species. Deforestation is an immensely powerful source of greenhouse gas emissions because it converts a carbon “sink” into a carbon “source”. As carbon dioxide concentrations increase in the atmosphere, forests are able to grow more vigorously, drawing down extra carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and thereby providing a “negative feedback” to lower the concentration again. The chapter highlights a number of ways in which animal agriculture contributes to climate change, often through practices that are themselves harmful to animals, to produce higher quantities of animal produce than are healthy for humans to consume.