Climate Week: What We Eat is Causing this Heat

Eat Plants. Save Animals. Stop Climate Change!

Jaguars, koalas, and even polar bears are victims of the same cruel system as cows, chickens, and pigs–industrial animal agriculture (also called “factory farming”). Factory farms not only cause untold suffering for the animals who are confined and slaughtered, they are also a leading cause of climate change, making the planet less habitable for animals worldwide.

Despite growing momentum to address climate change, industrial animal agriculture continues to be let off the hook. We cannot afford to keep giving factory farming a pass.

You can help by demanding more plant-based foods in grocery stores, restaurants, and cafeterias in your community.

Experts have warned that unless factory farming declines, we cannot achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and keep below the 1.5°C increase maximum.

• Greenhouse gas emissions: GHG emissions from growing and processing crops to feed farmed animals represent 45% of global agricultural emissions. In the US, factory farms account for 13% of total methane emissions, a greenhouse gas with very high warming impact.
• Food waste: More than a quarter of all animal products are discarded, a major source of food waste in landfills! Food waste accounts for 2% of US greenhouse gas emissions.

The climate impacts from the world’s five largest factory farming companies are responsible for emissions equivalent to 36.4 million cars on the road annually.

Destroying Forests and Grasslands to Feed Factory Farming

Animals like Xama the jaguar and Cecilia the anteater are losing their homes and families to feed factory farms.

In Brazil’s pristine ecosystems, fires are deliberately set, destroying precious habitats and the animals that once thrived there. Similarly, in the wilds of Queensland, Australia, trees that provide homes for koalas and other animals are bulldozed.

This destruction is driven by meat companies seeking more space and releases significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

Creating and Spreading Virulent Disease

Factory farming and climate change are increasing the global risk of zoonotic diseases like bird flu. Industrial agriculture puts thousands of animals into overcrowded conditions, increasing the spread and severity of viruses and bacteria. Warmer temperatures, caused in part by factory farms, are expanding the range of harmful diseases.

Recent global outbreaks of bird flu have killed nearly 100 million US chickens since 2022 and have recently infected species across several continents, including Antarctic penguins, a Florida dolphin, and an Alaskan polar bear.  The World Health Organization labels bird flu a global zoonotic pandemic.

Set meat reduction targets

Companies committed to social responsibility in their supply chains must set timebound targets for reducing meat procurement. Achieving reductions in meat purchasing will better enable companies to meet emissions reduction, biodiversity protection, and other sustainability targets.

Meaningfully promote plant-based and other animal-free foods

Including plant-based foods on retail shelves and restaurant menus is a positive step, but transformational change requires food companies to actively promote these foods and their benefits to their customers through in-store and online deals, features, and offers.