Environmental Protection Agency estimates for human-controlled sources of methane emission from the U.S. in 2009 (bar graph) and percent contribution of methane to the entire greenhouse gas inventory for the U.S. (shown in red on the pie charts) for the 100-year and 20-year integrated time scales. The sizes of the pie charts are proportional to the total greenhouse gas emission for the U.S. in 2009. The methane emissions represent a greater portion of the warming potential when converted to equivalents of mass of carbon dioxide at the shorter time scale, which increases both the magnitude of the total warming potential and the percentage attributed to methane. Data are from EPA (2011a, b), as discussed in Electronic Supplemental Material, and reflect an increase over the April 2011 national inventory estimates due to new information on methane emissions from Marcellus shale gas and tight-sand gas production for 2009 (EPA 2011b). Animal agriculture estimate combines enteric fermentation with manure management. Coal mining combines active mines and abandoned mines. The time-frame comparisons are made using the most recent data on global warming potentials from Shindell et al. (2009). (Howarth 2012, Climate Change).
The following U.N. report and a report in Worldwatch Institute continue the theme that animal agriculture inflicts much environmental damage, and they add that a move to a plant-based diet is imperative.
On June 2, 2010 the United Nations Environment Programme released "Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Production and Consumption: Priority Products and Materials." It includes a selection on the severe environmental problems caused by animal agriculture. It advices that the worst impacts of climate change from animal agriculture can only be averted by a worldwide shift toward a plant-based diet - no animal flesh and no animal products (particularly dairy). Read a Summary, or the complete report.
The Nov/Dec 2009 issue of the magazine of the Worldwatch Institute (a highly respected environmental organization) includes "Livestock and Climate Change." It estimates that 51% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture! The authors recommend that activists start lobbying the food industry to see the financial advantages of a massive marketing campaign for meat and dairy analogs (veggie burgers, almond milk, etc. etc.) so that the production and consumption of animals for food will be dramatically reduced. They say consumers should be encouraged to eat a completely plant-based diet rather than switching from one animal flesh to another (such as switching from beef to chicken). Read the Worldwatch Institute report here.
Note from Chair Linda DeStefano - People can have a satisfying and healthy vegan diet without relying on meat and dairy analogs but instead eating less processed food: beans and other legumes, grains, veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, and the many yummy dishes that can be made from them. See our recipe page here.
