Animal Welfare and Climate Change: Dual Crisis, Shared Solutions

Animal agriculture is both a significant contributor to climate change and highly vulnerable to its effects. Addressing both requires integrated thinking about welfare, emissions, and food system transformation.

Key Facts

Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAO estimate)
Ruminant livestock produce methane — a potent short-lived climate pollutant — through enteric fermentation
Climate change increases heat stress risk for livestock, worsening productivity and welfare simultaneously
Reducing livestock numbers through dietary shift is among the most impactful individual climate actions
Pasture-based systems with low stocking density can sequester carbon, but benefits are context-dependent

Welfare Considerations

The climate and animal welfare crises are deeply interconnected. The same intensive production systems that cause the most animal suffering also generate the most greenhouse gas per unit of food produced. Dietary shifts toward plant-rich diets reduce both emissions and animal product demand simultaneously. Higher welfare, extensively managed systems typically have lower emissions intensity per animal but higher land use. The most welfare-positive and climate-positive outcome is reduced total animal product consumption combined with higher welfare standards for remaining production — a transition that benefits animals, climate, and human health together.

What You Can Do

Reduce consumption of animal products — even partial reduction has meaningful welfare and climate impact
When consuming animal products, prioritise higher welfare, lower-emissions production systems
Support policy frameworks that align agricultural subsidy with both welfare and climate outcomes
Engage with food system advocacy that centres both animal welfare and climate in reform goals