The Overlooked Contributor to Climate Change

By: Nidhi Kulkarni (Yr13)

We’ve all heard that we need to drive less, recycle more, and switch to renewable energy, but do those actions have as much of a positive impact as we think they do? While these are certainly steps in the right direction, there is one strategy in particular that receives disproportionately little airtime for how significant of a measure it can be: adopting a plant-based diet.

According to the United Nations (1) and the IPCC (2), animal agriculture has a tangible impact on the environment in several ways: land use, water use, and the emissions it produces. Transitioning towards a plant-based diet has the potential to greatly increase efficiency in our use of resources. The food we put on our plates may well be the difference between saving the planet and watching it burn before our eyes.

Land Use

Today, about 50% (3) of the world’s total habitable land is used for agriculture.

If everyone in the world were to switch to the average Bruneian diet, we would be using nearly 60% of the world’s habitable land for agriculture.

It is estimated (4) that 77% of agricultural land is used to raise animals such as cows and chickens for food. Despite this, 82% of the global calorie supply is from plant-based foods, making meat a highly inefficient source of calories for the area of land it requires. Additionally, as incomes increase, per capita meat consumption in developing countries rises. These consumption patterns are detrimental to the planet, as there is not enough arable land on Earth to keep up with the growing demand.

It is also important to note that 80% (5) of global deforestation is attributed to agriculture, specifically the practice of clearing land to raise animals as well as to grow their feed. The demand for soy for direct human consumption is a minuscule portion in the total demand for soy as the vast majority of it is used to produce cattle feed.

Water Use

In the United States alone, 136-280 (7) trillion litres of water are used by animal agriculture, so the total amount of water consumed by domestic uses such as taking showers pales in comparison to how much is taken up by animal farming. Regions all over the world are experiencing water scarcity, from Australia to the Middle East to South Asia. Hence, conserving water is critical to preserving our future.

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Emissions

As of 2015, livestock agrifood systems made up 12% (6) of greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans, which is comparable to total global transportation emissions.

The deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in order to produce beef greatly decreases the amount of carbon that is sequestered, which also increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Cattle rearing produces methane and nitrous oxide, which are 28 and 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide respectively.

Overfishing

Finally, commercial fishing for human consumption is responsible for ecosystem degradation as well as decreasing food and economic security (8) in numerous regions, including the Mediterranean Sea and China. As fish are ripped out of the ocean at a faster rate than fish populations replenish, an imbalance in the ecosystem is left behind.

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Though ditching plastic straws and bags is a step in the right direction, fishing nets from bottom trawling decimate the population of sea turtles and other marine animals to a far greater extent than other plastic waste.

The dwindling numbers of fish harm coastal communities who have little to no alternative food source, which negatively impacts their food security and can be detrimental to local economies.

Conclusion

It is certainly not easy for anyone to change their habits; however, if we do not, we risk allowing more environmental issues such as rising temperatures, food and water scarcity, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss to perpetuate, having the potential to destroy livelihoods. For this reason, challenging yourself to shift to a plant-based diet can be one of the most impactful changes you can make in your daily life. Some may say that just one person is unlikely to bring about much change, but being a part of the movement and encouraging others is what makes a difference!

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