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Vegetarianism Points
UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
Abridged Report Mitigating Climate Change in Agriculture, Published April
2014
‘The demand for carbon intensive meat is increasing’
‘It is important to address rising meat consumption’
This report emphasises the need for demand shifts, suggesting ‘Reducing
overall agricultural production (e.g., by reducing food waste) or shifting
away from high-carbon intensity agricultural products such as meat from
ruminants.’
Mitigation from agriculture can result from ‘Reducing overall agricultural
production (e.g., by reducing food loss and waste or demand for biofuels)
or shifting away from high-carbon intensity agricultural products such as
meat from ruminants.’
‘Ultimately, the best way to reduce enteric fermentation emissions is to
reduce ruminant populations’
‘Because of their long lives as well as their poor nutrition, the meat and
dairy that these animals produce have very high emissions intensities.’ Re.
Smallholder herds common to Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
‘There is little that can be done to improve the productivity of these herds
[in industrialised markets], under current breeding and nutrition
technology.
‘Although meat wastage is responsible for a relatively low percentage of
losses by calorie and weight, it accounts for a high percent of carbon
emissions, equivalent to fruits and vegetables.’
‘Compared with other commodities, meat wastage volumes are low,
however the meat sector generates substantial carbon emissions and land
pressure, especially in high-income countries in industrialized
Asia, North America, Oceania and Latin America, and therefore should not
be overlooked.’
‘World meat production and consumption has grown exponentially since
the 1960s, and is projected to grow an additional 70 to 80 percent by
2050 due to increasing income and population from emerging and
developing countries’
‘World meat production and consumption has grown exponentially since
the 1960s, and is projected to grow an additional 70 to 80 percent by
2050 due to increasing income and population from emerging and
developing countries’
‘When the full life cycle emissions of meat is considered, livestock account
for 14.5 percent of total global GHG emissions, or a total of 7.1 Gt CO2e
per year.’
‘While numerous researchers and institutions around the world are focused
on reducing the carbon footprint of livestock production (supply), little has
been done about the viability of curbing growth trajectories of meat
consumption (demand).’
‘Beef has roughly six times the carbon footprint per kg of food than
poultry, and poultry’s carbon footprint is roughly ten times that of any of
the major cereal crops.’
‘Beef is also the least resource-efficient meat to produce per kilo than any
other meat, requiring large amounts of water, energy, feed and land’
‘Reducing the amount of land and grains used for livestock increases food
availability by freeing available resources. A 2011 study revealed that
reducing meat consumption could increase the global food supply by 50
percent by reduced pressure on croplands.’
‘Decreasing meat production, primarily of ruminants, reduces water use,
soil degradation, pressure on forests, and manure and pollution into water
systems.’
‘Global meat consumption is largely dominated by China (28 percent), the
E.U. (15 percent), the U.S. (15 percent) and Brazil (6 percent).’
‘China’s rising demand for meat is specifically notable given China’s
population of 1.3 billion; and the trend towards higher carbon intensive
meats, with projected consumption of beef and mutton increasing 116
percent by 2050’
‘It is also important to note that the U.S. still consumes the highest
amount of meat per capita of any major economy, more than double what
is considered appropriate for a healthy diet.’
‘Given beef production requires substantially more land, water and feed
(grains) than other meats, it would not serve the interest of the
government’s food and water security goals to increase beef consumption
and production.’
A BBC article from September 1st 2014, supported by UNFCCC
‘New research from Cambridge and Aberdeen universities predicts that
greenhouse gases from food production will increase by 80% if our diet of
meat and dairy continues to rise at its current rate.’
‘Deforestation will increase carbon emissions, and increased livestock
production will raise methane levels and wider fertiliser use will further
accelerate climate change.’
‘Agricultural practices are not necessarily at fault here - but our choice of
food is.’ Bojana Bajzelj, University of Cambridge
Chatham House Report: Global Public Opinion on Meat and Dairy
Consumption and Climate Change: An Awareness Gap, 10th December
2014
Asked about propensity to take action on climate change:
When people from 16 countries including 8 with Netzer Sniffim were asked
about their propensity to take action on climate change by eating less
meat and less dairy, it had the lowest percentages of any action suggested
for ‘I am already doing this as much as possible’ and the 2 highest
percentages for ‘fairly unlikely to’ and ‘certain not to’.
UNFCCC 2014 report:
Sources of direct agricultural emissions:
43% Ruminants (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats, water buffalo) emit CH4 directly as a
byproduct of digestion.
Note: Methane traps 29 times as much heat per mass unit as CO2
Figure 4: Global emissions by commodity, 200814
Demand changes would have the most impact:
This evidence shows that vegetarianism is supported by Netzer Platform
Point 2: the covenant as a moral obligation, specifically ‘L’or Goyim’,
Platform Point 8: Tikkun Olam. Platform Point 9: Our Values, specifically
Informed Decision Making, Mutual Care and Cooperation and Care for the
Environment, Platform Point 13: Hagshama and Activism, Platform Point 14:
Geula, specifically "Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v'lo atah ben chorin
lehibatel mimena”.