How Much Does Beef Production Contribute to Global Warming?

Beef production has a significant impact on the environment, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. But how exactly does raising cattle affect climate change, and what is the scale of beef’s role? This article will break down the major sources of emissions from beef production and quantify its total contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions

Key Sources of Emissions from Beef Production

There are two main ways that beef production leads to greenhouse gas emissions

Methane from cow digestion: Cattle, along with other ruminant animals like sheep and goats, have a specialized digestive system that allows them to break down tough grasses and plants that monogastric animals like pigs and chickens cannot digest. However, this fermentation process in their stomachs leads cows to belch (and fart) large amounts of methane, which is a very potent greenhouse gas. Methane is also released from manure.
Land use change for cattle grazing and feed production: Converting forests and other native lands to pastureland and cropland for feed production releases large amounts of carbon dioxide stored in vegetation and soils. The expansion of agriculture, particularly for beef, has been the leading driver of deforestation globally.

In addition, nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use and manure contribute to climate change as well.

Total Emissions from Beef Production

In 2017, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that beef production was responsible for about 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2010. This includes:

Agricultural production emissions (methane from cows and manure, nitrous oxide from fertilizers and manure): 2.2 billion tonnes CO2e
Land use change emissions (converting forests to pastureland): 0.7 billion tonnes CO2e

To put this huge number in perspective, 3 billion tonnes CO2e is approximately:

7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2010
Roughly on par with total emissions from India, the world’s 3rd largest emitter
3 times higher than emissions from all passenger transport globally

Many other analyses have attempted to quantify beef’s climate impacts:

A 2019 study found beef accounted for 3% of US emissions
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates agriculture is 10% of US emissions
A 2017 study said eliminating all animals would cut US ag emissions by just 3%

However, these studies only look at agricultural production emissions, not the enormous land use change impacts that should be attributed to beef consumption as well.

Why Reduce Beef for Climate Change Mitigation?

The IPCC estimates that holding global warming to 1.5°C requires cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Reducing beef consumption and production will need to be part of comprehensive climate solutions for several reasons:

Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas, with 84x the warming power of CO2 over 20 years
Beef production is resource intensive, requiring 20x more land and emitting 20x more emissions per gram of protein compared to plant proteins
Demand for beef is rising globally, putting pressure on forests
Shifting toward plant-based protein is achievable through smaller diet changes and emerging alternatives

While a massive overnight shift away from beef is not necessary, reducing ruminant meat consumption by 50% in higher-consuming regions would make a major contribution to emission reductions. Pursuing sustainable production practices, reducing food loss and waste, and providing social support for affected producers will also be important parts of a just, equitable transition to climate-friendly food systems.

In total, beef production was responsible for about 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, or 3 billion tonnes CO2e. This includes substantial methane and land use change impacts that many studies of US beef emissions overlook. As global beef demand rises, reducing ruminant meat over-consumption will be essential to avoid dangerous climate change and protect forests and biodiversity. A 50% reduction in intake in high-consuming regions, along with sustainable agricultural practices, will reduce beef’s climate footprint while enabling access and production at moderate levels to continue.

how much does beef production contribute to global warming

Words by Daisy Dunne. Design by Tom Prater and Joe Goodman.

This interactive Q&A is part of a week-long special series exploring how food is heating the planet.

Food production accounts for one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and takes up half of the planet’s habitable surface.

A taste for meat has had a particular impact on land. The mass of animals raised for slaughter on Earth now outweighs wildlife by a factor of 15-to-1. For example, for every person on the planet, there are approximately three chickens.

Meat and dairy specifically accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

If the world is to meet its target of limiting global warming to “well below” 2C, some degree of diet shift will be necessary, scientists say. If it is to strive for the most optimistic target of keeping warming to 1.5C, changes to diet may be even more crucial.

In this Q&A page,

This interactive Q&A is part of a week-long special series exploring how food is heating the planet.

How regional food intake compares with the EAT-Lancet’s ‘planetary health’ diet

The EAT-Lancet Commission says that the amount of red meat eaten around the world is much higher than what it considers to be healthy and sustainable.

At the moment, about three times as much meat is eaten around the world as the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet suggests.

The amount of eggs eaten around the world is also not thought to be healthy or sustainable.

Nuts, whole grains, and legumes (like beans and peas) are not eaten nearly enough around the world for a healthy and sustainable diet.

North America eats a lot more red meat than any other part of the world. In fact, it eats more than six times as much as the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet suggests.

North America also eats more eggs, dairy, and chicken than any other part of the world. To meet the needs of a healthy and sustainable diet, all of these foods would have to be cut back.

On the other hand, it is tied for last in the world in terms of how much whole grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and bulgur wheat are eaten.

How Meat Production Contributes to Climate Change

FAQ

How much does beef contribute to climate change?

With 99.48 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilogram, beef production remains the biggest source of greenhouse gases. This is more than double the carbon dioxide equivalents per kilogram linked to lamb and mutton production (39.72 kilograms).

How bad is beef production for the environment?

Beef production has a considerable effect on climate change due to emissions of greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. Research shows that ruminant livestock account for between 7% and 18% of global methane emissions from human-related activities.

Is the meat industry the biggest contributor to global warming?

Meat and dairy specifically accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). If the world is to meet its target of limiting global warming to “well below” 2C, some degree of diet shift will be necessary, scientists say.

Is consumption of beef a major contributor to global warming?

The global production of food additionally emits gases that heat the planet and overall cause global warming. Meat consumption is accountable for releasing greenhouse gases which include methane, CO₂, and nitrous oxide and these gases contribute to climate change, such as global warming.