Paola Carranza

Sustainable Systems Blog #3

Kimberly Tate

Climate change is a very popular and trending topic that ceases to disappear and is something that is very on the range now. If someone were even to mention the words climate change or caring about the environment a few decades or even a few years ago, they would probably think you were some far left-sided liberal that needed to be checked into an asylum. So when someone thinks about going green and plans to adopt a new lifestyle that is thinking about the effects around them, most people think switching their gas guzzling car to an electric one or not purchasing plastic water bottles.

The problem is that has anyone ever thought about how their diet affects climate change? Most of us wouldn’t and it really is not our fault because most countries’ governments do not mention people’s diets in correlation to the issue of the rise greenhouse gases or climate change. The diet that particularly is affecting climate change at extreme levels more than any other company is the American diet. As most would guess, this diet includes large amounts of meat and dairy and the large production of these products that is trying to meet the huge demands. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has even gone to say that the meat industry has caused more greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide than any other transportation or industry. The FAO also included that producing half a pound of hamburger releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly 10 miles. The global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all cars, planes, trains and ships combined. A huge problem is that why don’t most people know these gripping facts and information. Everyone is mostly worried about not driving harmful vehicles or factories emitting harmful chemicals into the atmosphere which is absolutely outstanding and necessary, but most people are not aware of the most dangerous and harmful industry out of all of them. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has even gone to say that if major nations like China, the United States, and the continent of Europe do not lower their consumption of meat and other animal products then the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will be at an all time high in a few years.

The statistics on recent scientific studies which show that soaring meat demand in China and elsewhere could tip the world’s climate into chaos. Beef and dairy alone make up 65% of all livestock emissions. So the future of this earth relies on large nations and their people to adopt a new lifestyle and way of life in order to reduce greenhouse gases that are destroying our atmosphere and our planet. So instead of only blaming the car companies solely for their toxic gases, why don’t we turn our heads to the real culprit of this crime.

Question: How are you going to face the meat and dairy industries with their jaw dropping crimes?


2 thoughts on “Meat and Dairy Industry and Climate Change/Greenhouse Gases

  1. Wow, what a fact. “he United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has even gone to say that the meat industry has caused more greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide than any other transportation or industry.”

    Paola, I agree completely. Dietary choices are a major factor in the way we commit ourselves to sustainable living. My feeling is that it is impossible to truly commit to green living without taking a look at diet and the impact it has on the environment and society as climate change impacts cultures, cities, weather, economies, etc.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Yes, it is good to recognize that just as we vote with our dollars, what we support with our life style choices such as OUR DIETS, indeed has environmental impacts. This is a consideration within our own hyper-local sphere of influence we can address now.


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