Diet change first step in carbon footprint reduction, says Nobel Peace Prize
winner. However, a bigger picture addresses concerns of meat producers.
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This news item has two parts. Part I is a statement by Nobel Laureate Rajendra Pachauri. Taken at face value, the recommendation to reduce meat consumption threatens livelihoods of meat producers. Part II considers alternatives that respect various stakeholders and creates opportunities for them to expand markets while increasing profits.
Part I: Diet change first step in carbon footprint reduction, says Nobel Peace Prize winner
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) and winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, is calling on
individuals to cut their carbon footprints by transforming their diets.
"Meat production represents 18 percent of global human-induced greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, including 37 percent of global methane emissions, which
has 23 times the global warming potential of CO2 and 65 percent of nitrous
oxide, which has 296 times the warming potential of CO2," says Pachauri.
"While the world is looking for sharp reductions in GHG responsible for
climate change, growing global meat production is going to severely
compromise future efforts. An average household would reduce the impact of
their GHG emissions by more if they halved their meat consumption than if
they halved their car usage."
He adds that more than 60 billion farm animals are reared annually - figure
that is set to double by 2050. "The need to change our diet is increasingly
urgent," says Pachauri. "There is, as yet, inadequate awareness on this
subject, though voices are rising. A small reduction can make a difference.
For example, a study from the University of Chicago showed that if Americans
were to reduce meat consumption by 20 percent, it would be as if they
switched from a standard sedan to the ultra-efficient Prius."
Contributed from a posting by Linda McCormick from the September 2008 issue of Biocycle
Part II: Creative and Economic Opportunities that Respect the Livelihoods of Meat Producers
Proposals to reduce meat consumption are threats to New Mexico's meat producers. A more viable strategy includes working with industry to reduce GHG emissions from animal operations and save money along the way.For example, adoption of grass-fed, ecosystem approaches would enable industry to move away from the standard approach of concentrated animal feeding operations that rely heavily on grain production, itself a source of emissions from fertilizer manufacture.There are success stories of implementing methane recovery from manure to generate electricity and earn income for farms and ranches.There is room to discuss adopting a no-growth approach to meat, which would not threaten current producers, but would reduce future risks from GHG emissions.
Curiously, meat consumption increases with GDP (Speedy et al. 2003. J. Nutr.).By setting a target consumption of 32.8 kg/person/year (McMichael et al. 2007. Lancet) greenhouse gas emissions from meat would be stabilized, as shown by the green line in the figure.The target would still allow expansion of meat consumption in developing countries, itself a nutritional benefit that helps improve well being.
