Animal Agriculture and Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Animal agriculture accounts for 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions with significant welfare implications for billions of animals affected by climate change downstream.

Key Facts

The UN FAO estimates livestock contribute 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions
Beef production generates 20 times more emissions per gram of protein than legumes
Reducing animal product consumption is one of the most effective individual climate actions available
A global shift to plant-rich diets could reduce food system emissions by up to 70 percent

Welfare Considerations

Animal agriculture creates a dual welfare impact: the direct welfare of billions of farmed animals and the downstream welfare harm to wild animals from climate change caused partly by agricultural emissions. Reducing meat and dairy consumption addresses both simultaneously. The connection between dietary choices and animal welfare extends far beyond the immediate supply chain to include the billions of wild animals whose habitat is destroyed by climate change driven partly by agricultural emissions.

What You Can Do

Reduce meat and dairy consumption particularly from ruminant animals with high methane emissions
Choose plant-based proteins as primary sources with animal products as occasional supplements
Support agricultural policies that incentivize lower-emission farming practices and plant protein production
Learn about the climate-animal welfare connection and share this knowledge to broaden animal welfare advocacy