The Global Impact of Meat Consumption on Climate

Meat consumption can impact the climate in many ways.

In order to produce animal meat, it is required that farmers plant vast land masses of crops that serve at animal feed. During this process, deforestation is required to save space for the cultivation of these crops. This reduces the amount of carbon sinks that can sequester carbon from the atmosphere and enhances climate change.

While planting the animal feed, a lot of energy will be required in both the operation of the machinery used in planation and also the production of the inorganic fertilizers used to speed up crop growth. The energy demand created to complete all these activities again creates emissions which accelerates climate change by combusting fossil fuels.

While raising the animals, facilities such as animal shelter and slaughterhouses are also required. The operation of these facilities again requires energy. After animal meat is collected, the transportation of these products to different parts in the world for customers across the globe also releases emissions.