With global warming rates on a continual rise, scientists and environmentalists alike are perilously searching for a solution to decrease our warming rate and save many species from extinction.
Countless large strides have been taken to reduce our carbon footprint, especially in the United States, through the implementation of legislature such as The Clean Air Act and The Montreal Protocol. The government has been largely focused on reducing emissions in the automotive industry as well as in greenhouse gas emitting factories. Although doing this has led to some decrease in the rapid depletion of our ozone layer and in the exponential warming of the polar regions, there is a much larger source of air pollution the government chooses to ignore--the meat industry.
Consumption of meat by humans is something that has been occurring for many years. Its origins date back to over 2.6 million years ago. Although meat consumption has been a part of human life for nearly the entire existence of our species, many things surrounding how we access that meat has changed.
For early humans, it was common to consume large quantities of fruits, vegetables, nuts, insects, and smaller quantities of meat. Fast forward over 2 million years and humans now have a very meat-rich diet of every animal imaginable. Although diet expansion is typically a good thing for an expanding species, it definitely comes at a cost.
The meat industry today is largely dominated by factory farms and massive meat processing plants to accommodate the endlessly growing demand. The increased demand has led to farmers diverting from traditional methods of raising livestock to ones that are not only inhumane but detrimental to our environment.
According to the Pace Law School Library, animals in factory farms produce over one million tons of manure every day, often containing undigested antibiotics and growth hormones which are given to the animals to make them more profitable. This waste is pumped out of the warehouses and slaughterhouses into lagoons outside. These lagoons are deep pits designed to be filled with manure until they can be emptied.
The waste in these pits will often seep through the bottom of the pit and contaminate groundwater. In many cases, this dirty water can leak into clean water aquifers and wells which further limits the amount of available drinking water to a nearby community.
Studies at Colombia’s International Centre for Tropical Agriculture have concluded that one quarter to one third of all greenhouse gas emission worldwide can be traced back to the food industry, yet the topic of how meat consumption effects climate change remains undiscussed.
Marco Springmann, a scientist at the Oxford Martin School Food Programme has said that if everyone were to go vegetarian by the year 2050 we would see a 60% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of the ozone layer, 70% if everyone went vegan.
Impossible Foods is an alternative foods company, specializing in creating plant-based meat. This meat is said to have more protein, less fat, and fewer calories than a traditional burger! Their most popular product, The Impossible Burger is a meat free burger which is cooked exactly like a normal burger and is nearly identical in taste. With thousands of locations in North America serving the Impossible Burger, they are easy to access. With over 10 locations within 5 miles of Montclair, there's no reason to not give one a try! Bareburger Montclair, located on Bloomfield Ave, is the nearest location to Montclair and serves a delicious Impossible Burger, definitely recommended!
Having been a vegetarian and firm supporter of animal rights since birth, I feel as though I've proven that meat is not a necessary component to ones growth and well being (I'm 6'5" and 195lbs). As more meat alternatives have emerged in the last 10-20 years, vegetarianism is on the rise and with the Impossible products entering the market, it is expected to continue to rise.
The facts against the meat industry in regards to global warming are obvious and continue to be a huge problem which is largely overlooked by the government and forgotten by consumers who chose to be ignorant of both the ethical and environmental impact their meat-eating has. The entire world going vegetarian by 2050 is very unlikely but there are things that the government should be doing to try and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted through the food industry. At the rate we are going, the current generation could be the firsts to see devastating results of this climate change and how it will affect generations to come. If action is not taken soon by both the government and its citizens, we could see permanent and irreversible damage to our climate and to the earth.
Countless large strides have been taken to reduce our carbon footprint, especially in the United States, through the implementation of legislature such as The Clean Air Act and The Montreal Protocol. The government has been largely focused on reducing emissions in the automotive industry as well as in greenhouse gas emitting factories. Although doing this has led to some decrease in the rapid depletion of our ozone layer and in the exponential warming of the polar regions, there is a much larger source of air pollution the government chooses to ignore--the meat industry.
For early humans, it was common to consume large quantities of fruits, vegetables, nuts, insects, and smaller quantities of meat. Fast forward over 2 million years and humans now have a very meat-rich diet of every animal imaginable. Although diet expansion is typically a good thing for an expanding species, it definitely comes at a cost.
The meat industry today is largely dominated by factory farms and massive meat processing plants to accommodate the endlessly growing demand. The increased demand has led to farmers diverting from traditional methods of raising livestock to ones that are not only inhumane but detrimental to our environment.
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| Increase in number of factory farms in the United States |
The waste in these pits will often seep through the bottom of the pit and contaminate groundwater. In many cases, this dirty water can leak into clean water aquifers and wells which further limits the amount of available drinking water to a nearby community.
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| Manure Lagoons outside a factory farm in Iowa |
Methane is a greenhouse gas and is a simple hydrocarbon consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Methane is naturally released in animal flatus and is typically not an issue surrounding climate change as it is in such small amounts. However, when farmers create large livestock farms, they cram thousands of animals into small spaces and alter their diets to make it easier and cheaper to feed them. These diets, often consisting of corn meal, increase the animal’s flatulence which in turn releases more methane into the atmosphere.
Beyond methane production, the meat industry has many other pollutants which can be traced back to industrial farming. With our supply of fresh water decreasing at alarming rates, the government decided to take initiatives to encourage citizens to conserve, telling them to turn off the water while brushing teeth or use more efficient dishwashers and washing machines. Though, in reality those are miniscule compared to the amount of water used in industrial farming. Not only is the meat industry using absurd amounts of water, but they are severely contaminating it to the point where it cannot be used for human consumption anymore.
Studies at Colombia’s International Centre for Tropical Agriculture have concluded that one quarter to one third of all greenhouse gas emission worldwide can be traced back to the food industry, yet the topic of how meat consumption effects climate change remains undiscussed.
Marco Springmann, a scientist at the Oxford Martin School Food Programme has said that if everyone were to go vegetarian by the year 2050 we would see a 60% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of the ozone layer, 70% if everyone went vegan.
Impossible Foods is an alternative foods company, specializing in creating plant-based meat. This meat is said to have more protein, less fat, and fewer calories than a traditional burger! Their most popular product, The Impossible Burger is a meat free burger which is cooked exactly like a normal burger and is nearly identical in taste. With thousands of locations in North America serving the Impossible Burger, they are easy to access. With over 10 locations within 5 miles of Montclair, there's no reason to not give one a try! Bareburger Montclair, located on Bloomfield Ave, is the nearest location to Montclair and serves a delicious Impossible Burger, definitely recommended!
Having been a vegetarian and firm supporter of animal rights since birth, I feel as though I've proven that meat is not a necessary component to ones growth and well being (I'm 6'5" and 195lbs). As more meat alternatives have emerged in the last 10-20 years, vegetarianism is on the rise and with the Impossible products entering the market, it is expected to continue to rise.
The facts against the meat industry in regards to global warming are obvious and continue to be a huge problem which is largely overlooked by the government and forgotten by consumers who chose to be ignorant of both the ethical and environmental impact their meat-eating has. The entire world going vegetarian by 2050 is very unlikely but there are things that the government should be doing to try and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted through the food industry. At the rate we are going, the current generation could be the firsts to see devastating results of this climate change and how it will affect generations to come. If action is not taken soon by both the government and its citizens, we could see permanent and irreversible damage to our climate and to the earth.
It's sad that America loves its meat industry to much to give it up (I myself could not become a vegetarian). But now I will be more conscientious of how much meat I consume and where I purchase it from.
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