An Ecological Analysis: Meat Consumption's Impact on Global Warming

This report delves into the significant impact of meat consumption on global warming and environmental sustainability. It examines the direct link between animal agriculture, including feed and fertilizer production, transportation, processing, and energy use, and the emission of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2. The study reviews existing literature to illustrate how various activities related to meat production contribute to climate change. The report also discusses the increasing trend of meat consumption in emerging economies and the need for global strategies, such as a contracting and convergence approach, to mitigate the adverse effects. The conclusion emphasizes the complexity of the issue and the importance of balancing natural resources to control global warming, particularly in tropical regions.

ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
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How the growing dependence on eating meat is effecting the environment in terms as
increasing the issue of global warming
Abstract
Meat consumption is directly linked to the sector of animal production. The production is
associated with the anthropogenic use of land which subsequently leads to the degradation of
soil, dwindling supplies of water and finally pollution of air. This implies that meat production is
not narrowly focused on rearing and slaughtering of farm animals alone but entire processes
involved. The animal feed production will require a substantial amount of energy, water as well
as the input of chemicals which cost the environment dearly. This makes animal agriculture to be
considered one of the activities which greatly impacts the environment and leads to climate
change as well as global warming. This particular paper has therefore reviewed how meat
consumption contributes to global warming.
Introduction
The advantages of eating no meat or just
consuming less of it in a bid to register
improvement on environmental
sustainability have been debated frequently
on various forums of the world
environmental management. It has become
an issue with plenty of attention
(Pierrehumbert & Eshel 2015). There has
been an estimation by World watch Institute
that animal-based foods including dairy,
eggs, and meat) production accounts for
over 50% of the emission of greenhouse
gases. There is no doubt on this particular
figure considering that more than half of the
world grain is today used in the production
of the animal feed. The consumption of meat
is therefore projected to double by the year
2050. The connection between diet, food
and global sustainability has never been

given the attention which it deserves. This
particular paper seeks to establish how the
growing dependence on eating meat is
affecting the environment in terms of
increasing the issue of global warming
(Saxe, Larsen & Mogensen 2013).
Methods
The research was based on the preview of
the various articles with the relevant data on
the impacts of eating meat on environmental
conservation. The focus has been on
identifying the possible trend on this
"disastrous habit" which practically has
dominated nearly all parts of the world.
Although data collection has only targeted
views of various authors on this particular
topic, the discussion presented here reflects
scientifically proven findings that can be
used in making convincing and concluding
remarks.
Results
The previewed literature materials identified
various activities which are meant to
increase meat production but strongly lead
to global warming
Activity Impacts
Feed and Fertilizer
production
Fossil fuels are burnt
to produce fertilizers
that are used in the
subsequent
production of feeds.
The process is
associated with the
significant emission
of CO2 gas which is
responsible for
global
warming(Joyce et al
2014). This implies
that the largest
amount of carbon
dioxide gas from
agriculture of
animals does not
come from the
animals themselves
but rather from the
inputs as well as
changes in the land
use to favor meat
production. This is
equivalent to almost
9% of yearly
anthropogenic CO2
output.
Transportation as
well as the
processing
Animal agriculture is
becoming
increasingly
globalized. The
products of these
animals, particularly
meat, are transported
to longer distances

than ever before. Use
fossil fuel vehicles
leads to the release of
the greenhouse
which is responsible
for the global
warming effects.
According to
literature sources,
over 45million pigs
and cattle trade
around the world
every year.
Traditional methods
of meat preservation
involve smoking
which also releases
carbon compounds
into the atmosphere
hence leading to the
global warming
effect.
Energy use Meat and other
related products of
meat can easily rot in
case they are not
preserved properly.
Energy is required to
maintain the
refrigeration
facilities for meat.
When there is power
blackout, fossil fuel
generators are used
to run these facilities
for the refrigeration
lading to the release
of the greenhouse
gases.
A table summary of the most dangerous
gases is as shown in the figure below:
Discussion
Consumption of meat is increasing very
rapidly in most of the countries that have
emerging economies like South Africa.
However, in some countries, the trend is less
common and it is reducing like for the case
of India. This has been identified as the key
driver for the global growth in favor of the
demand for animal products. The
consequences have included among others
use of phosphorous and other emissions of
greenhouse gases all of which affects the
temperature balance of the globe.
Ultimately, this particular issue will require
global attention. A contracting and
convergence approach may be treated as the
best response to the emission of greenhouse
gases(Godfray et al 2018). This implies that
those countries which have a higher

consumption of meat will be required to
reduce their per capita consumption. It is
only through this approach that everyone
will be given the chance to converge on a
globally sustainable level of economic
production (Scholtz et al 2013).
Conclusion
From the data obtained, it is evident that
meat consumption is a complicated issue
(Cole & McCoskey 2013). The consumption
of meat impacts the use of the resources
including globally critical water and
nutrients besides resulting in the generation
of wastes through greenhouse gas emission
and agricultural run-off. These impacts must
be addressed in equal measure to ensure that
global warming is controlled especially in
the tropical regions. The remedial measures
should aim at balancing nature resources as
a whole.
Bibliography
Cole, J. R., & McCoskey, S. (2013). Does
global meat consumption follow an
environmental Kuznets
curve?. Sustainability: Science,
Practice and Policy, 9(2), 26-36.
Godfray, H. C. J., Aveyard, P., Garnett, T.,
Hall, J. W., Key, T. J., Lorimer, J., ...
& Jebb, S. A. (2018). Meat
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environment. Science, 361(6399),
eaam5324.
Joyce, A., Hallett, J., Hannelly, T., & Carey,
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choices on global warming and
policy implications: examining the
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and Emission Control
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Climate impact of beef: an analysis
considering multiple time scales and

production methods without the use
of global warming potentials.
Environmental Research
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Saxe, H., Larsen, T. M., & Mogensen, L.
(2013). The global warming
potential of two healthy Nordic diets
compared with the average Danish
diet. Climatic Change, 116(2), 249-
262.
Scholtz, M. M., Maiwashe, A., Neser, F. W.
C., Theunissen, A., Olivier, W. J.,
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