Factory farming compounds harm
Concentrated animal suffering goes hand-in-hand with concentrated emissions and waste.
14.5% of Global Emissions
- Livestock: 14.5% of global GHG emissions (FAO 2013, Tackling Climate Change through Livestock).
- Efficiency gap: Beef emits ~20x more GHG per gram of protein than legumes.
- Diet shift: Plant-based diets cut food-related emissions by 50%+.
EMISSIONS BREAKDOWN
Where animal agriculture drives climate impact — and where interventions matter most.
Methane from livestock
44% of livestock GHG; ~80x more potent than CO2 over 20 years; mainly from enteric fermentation in cattle.
Land use & deforestation
80% of Amazon deforestation linked to cattle ranching and soy for feed; 77% of agricultural land used for livestock, yet it provides only 18% of global calories.
Nitrous oxide from manure
40% of anthropogenic N2O; ~273x more potent than CO2; driven by manure lagoons and fertilizer.
Water & ocean impact
~1,800 gallons of water per pound of beef vs 39 for vegetables; dead zones from agricultural runoff; 45% of US water use.
DIET & EMISSIONS
Diet change is a high-impact lever for cutting climate pollution.
14.5%
Livestock share of global GHG (FAO)
50%+
GHG reduction from plant-based diet
77%
Of farmland used for livestock
18%
Of calories livestock provides
Two Problems, One Solution
Reducing animal agriculture addresses both climate change and animal suffering simultaneously.
Beef and dairy matter most
Reducing beef and dairy is the single highest-impact diet action (Poore & Nemecek 2018, Science).
Alt proteins cut emissions
Alternative proteins can reduce emissions 90%+ compared to beef.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Choose the actions with the highest climate and welfare leverage.
🌱 Reduce beef and dairy first
Target the foods with the highest climate footprint and suffering footprint.
📊 Use Shrink That Footprint
Estimate and reduce your food emissions with the Shrink That Footprint calculator.
🏭 Support alt protein companies
Back the innovations that can replace high-impact animal products.
Good Food Institute📢 Advocate for subsidy reform
Push for policies that shift public funds away from high-emission animal agriculture.