Fighting for the Future:A Just Transition in Intensive Livestock Production? Georgia Montague-Nelson (bio) The planet is in crisis. Climate change is threatening the world and is affecting all workers. The global food system has a huge impact on the climate crisis, and globally is estimated to be responsible for over one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The intensive production of meat and dairy is the most emissions intensive sector in agriculture and is responsible for 14.5 percent of emissions1. Emissions from manure, the production of animal feed, clearance of land, production and use of agrochemicals, and fossil fuels used across the supply chain, pollute the air and the water2. Population growth, the growth of the middle class, and shifts to diets, alongside neoliberalism and globalisation have all increased demand for and consumption of livestock products globally. This has contributed to huge scaling up of climate damaging production methods, and an export-driven system of global food production. Financialisation across the industry has consolidated power in the hands of a small number of TNCs. These corporations prioritise profits at the expense of the climate and the rights and wellbeing of workers. Globally, 70 percent of emissions are the result of corporate activity3, but these corporates brandish their vast economic power to lobby governments and international institutions to liberalise trade and influence climate change policy4. Production of huge quantities of cheap food contribute to the global obesity crisis, agrochemical and pharmaceutical use threaten the health of workers, and the COVID-19 crisis has underlined the potential of our food system to facilitate global pandemics5. The global food system is also negatively impacted by the climate crisis, causing loss of nature, biodiversity and arable land, water shortages and reduced yields6. This is devastating food production, threatening global food security and harming the human right to food which is hitting groups in situations of vulnerability hardest. Of the 690 million who face food insecurity right now, 60 percent are women and girls7. Millions are workers' who produce the world's food. But food scarcity is not the cause of food insecurity. The global food system is failing to deliver food security because the system is devastated by inequality of access and food waste. Why is the climate crisis a trade union issue? The climate crisis is already destroying the livelihoods of millions of workers across the world. The impacts are disproportionately felt by certain groups–agriculture and food production workers whose livelihoods are dependent on the climate, and groups in situations of vulnerability (women, migrants, youth, precarious and informal workers) who are overrepresented in the sector. These workers often face insecurity and discrimination at work, have weak rights and representation and are regarded as disposable by corporates. The food system is maintained by workers whose labour is exploited in the name of economic growth. Workers in intensive livestock production face relentless drives to cut costs, which results in stagnating wages, undermining of rights, and insecure and dangerous working conditions. Workers also face unique occupational health and safety issues because of the changing climate. Workers who are exposed to the elements or working without ventilation or air conditioning experience heat stress, with potential deadly impacts8. It is estimated that 2.2 percent of working hours worldwide will be lost to high temperatures by 20309, contributing to lost wages and more precarious working situations. Trade unions have a long history of fighting for a safer world where the rights of workers are protected. The climate crisis is no different. Principles for a Just Transition in Livestock Production Intensive livestock production is unsustainable and is threatening global food security. But food systems are essential for tackling the climate crisis. A radical transformation of the food system is urgently needed. But shifts to production will bring challenges for workers' livelihoods and workers and unions have historically been excluded from decision-making about transitions. But the climate crisis has ultimately been caused by the failure of the capitalist system to provide equality, respect for rights, and sustainability. So, for unions the fight for a just transition also means the fight for socio-economic transformation...
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Open Access
Jun 12, 2023
Zailin Zainal Ariffin + 6
