Environmental Impact

Animal Ag is Destroying the Planet

The climate crisis is one of the most important topics of our time, and the impacts of our food production system on the environment are undeniable. Animal agriculture emits more greenhouse gasses than the entire transportation sector, and it is the leading cause of ocean dead zones and the current mass extinction of wildlife.

1-2 acres

of rainforest are cleared every second for animal agriculture¹

68%

of the world’s mammal biomass is farmed animals²

660 gallons

of water are needed to produce just 1 hamburger³

Climate Change

Though much of the world is focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels as a way to fight climate change, animal agriculture and its impacts are often overlooked. Animal agriculture emits more greenhouse gasses than the entire transportation sector combined.⁴ And, experts believe that current food habits could lead to catastrophic climate change by 2050.⁵ We can greatly reduce our carbon footprint by reducing or eliminating animal products from our diets. Researchers at the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73 per cent.

The Rainforest

The UN, the National Audubon Society, the Worldwatch Institute, the Sierra Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists all say that raising animals for food causes immense damage to the environment. Many people are shocked to learn that the majority of farmland clearing is used for animal agriculture.⁶ But this is not for the actual animals, this land is used to grow food to feed the animals that we eat. Because of this, meat and dairy production uses over 80% of farmland and is the leading cause of rainforest destruction as more land is needed to accommodate the industry.⁴ If we consume less animal products, less land will need to be cleared to feed these animals.

Species Extinction

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of the current mass extinction of wildlife because of loss of habitat due to animal farming practices.⁷ Because so much land is needed to feed the animals that are used for food, many wild animals have nowhere to go or are killed to make room for more farming. Choosing to reduce or eliminate animal products from our diets not only saves the animals that are typically used for food, it also saves the countless wild animals who are losing their habitat.

Our Water

The water usage and the water contamination caused by factory farms is astronomical. In fact, it takes an average of 660 gallons of water to produce 1 hamburger.⁸ Additionally, runoff from both synthetic fertilizers and animal waste can poison drinking water and aquatic ecosystems, wreaking havoc on human health and wildlife.⁹ Every meal can make a difference, just by choosing to eat plant-based burgers instead of a typical hamburger you are using less water and contributing to less water contamination.

Our Oceans

Scientists estimate that the fishing industry kills between 0.97 and 1.97 trillion wild fish worldwide every year, further straining fragile oceans and other waterways that are already poisoned by pollution from oil spills, agricultural runoff and immense amounts of garbage.¹⁰ This does not include the unintended catching of marine species (including dolphins, whales and seals) who are discarded as ‘by-kill’. When we eat fish we are impacting more than just that individual, we are impacting the entire ocean. Choosing to leave animal products off of our plates can help animals, the ocean, and our world.

If cattle and dairy cows were a country, they would have more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire EU 28... Agriculture and land-use generates more greenhouse gas emissions than power generation.

- Steven Chu, Former United States Secretary of Energy

YOUR ACTIONS MATTER!

These facts can feel so discouraging - it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But we consumers have so much power! Any action you take to reduce or eliminate animal products makes a difference.

Tips to get started

References:
¹Scientific American
²Smil, Vaclav. Harvesting the Biosphere: The Human Impact
³Water Footprint Network
⁴ Poore, J. and Nemecek, T. Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers
⁵ World Resources Institute
⁶ McMahon, Jeff. Meat And Agriculture Are Worse For The Climate Than Power Generation, Steven Chu Says
⁷ Bar-On, Yinon M., Philips, Rob and Milo, Ron. The biomass distribution on Earth
⁸ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
⁹ Royte, Elizabeth and Ledner, Catharine. Transsexual Frogs
¹⁰ Fishcount.org.uk