even eliminating all carbon dioxide emissions from the energy and transport sectors will not be enough to achieve this, because there will be too many greenhouse gases from food production and agriculture. This is why we must say goodbye to meat and dairy products
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousSay goodbye to meat and dairy products. This is why it is important. To combat climate change and limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level - a goal supported by the international community - global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 80 to 90 percent by the second half of this. century.
Ma also by eliminating all carbon dioxide emissions from the energy and transport sectors it will not be enough to achieve this, because there will be too many greenhouse gases from food production and agriculture.
One proves it study on consumption of meat and dairy products area of Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, showing how nitrous oxide from farmland and methane from livestock could double by 2070 if agricultural emissions are not addressed. These emissions alone would make achieving the climate target virtually impossible.
Fredrik Hedenus, co-author with Stefan Wirsenius and Daniel Johansson, of the studio, explains:
“In the second half of the century, there will be many more people on this planet. Diets rich in meat and cheese are bound to become more common. […] It is estimated that global agricultural emissions could double in 50, 60 years. This alone could make achieving the climate goal virtually impossible. The technological options to reduce agricultural emissions are not promising and offer a very uncertain path towards the climate target ”.
What to do then? Simple, like illustra again the researcher: you have to stop eating meat and dairy products:
“The way to cut emissions is to cut down on beef consumption, and switch to other protein-rich foods. Producing beef causes greenhouse gas emissions per pound of protein about 40 times higher than beans. and 10 times higher than chicken meat. Today, the United States and the European Union have the highest per capita meat consumption in the world - and it continues to increase. In low- and middle-income countries, meat and dairy consumption increases with their income levels. The longer these trends continue, the harder it will be to reach the climate target. Changing these trends will be a daunting task, and can take a long time, but rich countries could lead by example measures to moderate their consumption of meat and dairy products".
We need to think now about how we can make our food more climate friendly. But also of animals and our health. Before it's too late.
Roberta Ragni
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