Meat-eating: The Second Main Culprit of Climate Change

Abstract

Background: Due to the greenhouse gases emission caused by human activities there is wide agreement about global warming. Methane is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases in the global warming process which is produced through human activities and natural processes. In addition, the use of fertilizers and chemical pesticides would produce nitrogen monoxide in the atmosphere. This gas is another greenhouse gas that takes its toll on global warming. Materials and Methods: In this study, we reviewed articles published between the years (2005-2022). Scientific resources were searched in both Persian and English using the keywords (meat-eating, climate change, cattle, pig, and food) in the databases (Magiran), Pubmed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Results: Population growth, economic development, and urban migration have stimulated unprecedented demand for animal protein such as meat and dairy products so that livestock in the traditional way no longer met this need of man for protein. About two to three billion cows and pigs are slaughtered annually resulting in a very high methane emission in nature that accelerates global warming. Conclusion: Shifting towards plant-rich diets and embracing alternative sources of protein could be helpful.