Diets must change to tackle climate crisis

On reading the latest UN climate report, there's no doubt that a rapid reduction in meat and dairy consumption is needed to avert a climate catastrophe.

The sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published yesterday (9th August), warns that urgent, far-reaching steps are essential if we are to avert climate catastrophe. It states that the world must deliver strong, rapid and sustained reductions in methane in order to tackle the climate crisis.

Our Head of UK, Dr Nick Palmer, said: “Methane is produced by ruminants - cattle and sheep – so a rapid reduction in global consumption of beef, lamb, and dairy products is needed. In particular we must end the keeping of cattle in feedlots where they not only emit methane but are fed on cereals and soy."

We must end deforestation

“We must also end the emissions caused by the use of fertilisers to grow crops for animal feed. Furthermore, we must stop deforestation in the Amazon where large amounts of soy are produced to feed animals, such as pigs and chickens, in factory farms all over the world.

“In short, we must vastly reduce consumption of meat and dairy with most meat and milk coming from cattle raised on well-managed pastures where substantial amounts of carbon can be sequestered. This will help to offset the substantial methane emissions.”

You can read the full Sixth Assessment report here.

Factory farming is a major contributor to the degradation of the world's natural resources and the rapid increase in climate change. Please support us to continue our work to end factory farming by donating today.