Livestock production is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
from all human activities, measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than
transport, which accounts for 14% of global GHG emissions.
Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from animal manure, methane emissions from the
animals’ digestion and nitrous oxide emissions from mineral fertiliser used to grow feed-crops
for farmed animals make up the majority of this 18%. The livestock sector is responsible for the following proportions of global anthropogenic emissions of the main greenhouse gases:
• 37% of total methane (CH4)
• 65% nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions
• 9% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
In addition, 64% of ammonia emissions originate in livestock production1 and contribute to air,
soil and water pollution, acid rain and damage to the ozone layer. According to the UN Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “The livestock sector has such deep and wide ranging
impacts that it should rank as one of the leading focuses for environmental policy.”
Meat and milk are currently under-priced in relation to their real environmental and carbon
costs. It is essential that the true costs of the livestock industry in relation to climate change are
reflected in costs and prices in developed countries.
Compassion in World Farming believes that high-income, developed countries have a situation
of unsustainable overproduction and over-consumption of animal products (meat, milk and eggs). We argue that a planned and well-managed reduction in the production and consumption of meat and milk in developed countries, such as those of the European Union and North America, is an essential step in order to help stabilise climate change. We believe that this reduction will have many beneficial side effects for both people and animals and will open up new opportunities to reformulate our food production policies.
