The Environmental Impact of Animal Agriculture

Several things are going on in this moving midrash. But I want to zero in on the second half – Hashem tells Adam here that he has the power, the potential, and perhaps even the inclination to destroy the world. And not to expect that miracles will repair it.

That was day 1 of creation – world population: 1 human. Today we are in year 5782, and the world population has reached 7.9 billion human beings. BILLION. (A number so large that our mind draws a blank at the sight of it.)

Today, that steak is not just one steak. Today, that steak, chicken, egg, milk, and fish is part of 7.9 billion human beings who consume animal agriculture – some even several times a day.

Today, over 150 million animals were killed for US consumption alone (USDA).

Today animal agriculture accounts for 18% of all global greenhouse gas emissions.

Today we have the potential to change that and create a sustainable planet.

But let’s rewind. To understand why industrial animal farming is so problematic, let’s go over some of the very basic aspects of the climate crisis. (Please note this is a simplified explanation of complex processes.)

In a nutshell

Since the industrial revolution, CO2 in the atmosphere has been steadily increasing. Its increase has led to a rise in the average global temperature (currently we’re at one degree Celsius). This increase sets off an existential chain reaction that includes changes in oceanic temperatures, extreme weather events, drought, heatwaves, flooding, sea level rise, and more. A two degree Celsius rise is catastrophic, and must be prevented. 

Let’s break it down

CO2 and other greenhouse gases such as methane exist naturally in the earth’s carbon cycles; however, with changes in land use, such as deforestation, and with extreme use in fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and gas, the natural balance has been tipped and human activities on earth are now emitting more greenhouse gases than the planet can absorb.

This, in turn, creates the greenhouse effect – a layer of greenhouse gases that cover the earth’s atmosphere. This layer – when in balance – is important; however as the sun heats up the planet, this new thick layer prevents the heat from escaping out of the atmosphere, creating what is known as the greenhouse effect. Imagine strawberries sealed in a plastic bag in the sun. They will decompose from the heat trapped in the bag at a much faster pace than if the bag was left open – or better yet if they were sitting comfortably in a bowl. We are those strawberries.

If we continue with business as usual, we will reach a tipping point of CO2 emissions that climate scientists call the point of no return, chas ve’chalila (Heaven forbid). This means that the imbalance of emissions will set off a chain reaction of ecosystem demise that can’t be undone. “There will be no one to repair it,” as Hashem says.

This is why we have to take action today. But let’s get back to the main question:

How are animals involved in all of this?

The animal agriculture industry (consumption of meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and fish) contributes to ecological destruction in a number of ways.

1. Resource Consumption – Animals are incredibly inefficient – that means that they need massive quantities of food, land, and water in order to survive. The planet is finite – our resources are limited – and animals consume an extraordinary amount of these dwindling resources.  

Animal agriculture uses approximately 30% of the world’s freshwater supply. For example, to produce 1kg of beef in the US, a cow needs to consume 7kg of grain.

To grow this grain, farmers need to clear land for farming; till the land; spray crops with fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicides; irrigate crops; and transport and store the grain. Each of these activities is incredibly environmentally intensive, emitting greenhouse gas emissions and contaminating our natural resources at each stage.

Furthermore, to make space for all of this grain and for grazing, colossal swaths of forests must be cleared, which has altered the face of the planet. Which brings us to…

2. Land Use – According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the world has lost approximately 1 billion acres of forest since 1990; the primary cause being livestock farming. And the amount of destruction is increasing. According to Amazon Conservation reports, deforestation increased by 21% in 2020, losses that equal roughly the size of Israel.

These forests are critical resources for the planet as they store much of the carbon in a healthy carbon cycle, which makes forest loss a downward spiral of environmental destruction. 

Furthermore, scientists estimate that 80% of all terrestrial species live in forests. Meaning that animal extinction and biodiversity loss is closely tied to our addiction to beef.

Livestock farming is so land-intensive that the industry accounts for 77% of the planet’s farming land.  

And it only produces 18% of the world’s calories and 37% of total protein (The UN Food and Agriculture Organization).

3. Methane Emissions – Cows, and other ruminant animals (such as sheep, goats, and others) produce massive quantities of methane due to their four stomach compartments. According to research conducted by UC Davis, a single cow emits 220 pounds of methane in a year. This is problematic because methane is a greenhouse gas with approximately 28 times the heat-warming effects of CO2. As the middle class grows around the globe, so too does beef consumption, which is why methane in the atmosphere continues to increase at an alarming rate. 

4. Contamination of Byproducts – When we consume animal products, much like with other products, it is easy to only see the final product and forget about the waste and byproducts that are disposed of (often improperly) along the way. Byproducts of the livestock industry include carcasses (according to meatscience.org 44% of a cow’s body mass is byproduct) and billions of