Livestock Factoids: Climate Change

Here are some of the findings from the LEAD (Livestock, Environment and Development) report, "Livestock's Long Shadow," on livestock's effect on the atmosphere and climate:

With rising temperatures, rising sea levels, melting icecaps and glaciers, shifting ocean currents and weather patterns, climate change is the most serious challenge facing the human race.

The livestock sector is a major player, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport.

The livestock sector accounts for 9 percent of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The largest share of this derives from land-use changes – especially deforestation – caused by expansion of pastures and arable land for feedcrops.

Livestock are responsible for much larger shares of some gases with far higher potential to warm the atmosphere. The sector emits 37 percent of anthropogenic methane (with 23 times the global warming potential (GWP) of CO2) most of that from enteric fermentation by ruminants.

It emits 65 percent of anthropogenic nitrous oxide (with 296 times the GWP of CO2), the great majority from manure.

Livestock are also responsible for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems.

Celsius has an excellent summary of the main findings of this report, "Livestock: Public Enemy Number One."