Why Global greenhouse gas emissions reduce 31% by Plant-based meat, milk alternatives

 

According to a new study, cutting the world’s consumption of pork, chicken, beef and milk products by half could help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 31% by 2050.

 

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications last month, also suggests the change in diet would virtually halt the loss of forests for farm use.

 Currently, food sourced from animals accounts for less than 20% of the global food energy supply, but “are responsible for the majority of negative impacts on land use, water use, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions in global food systems.

Farming cattle involves cutting down forests to plant grain to feed them, which produces methane, a far worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

 Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere,” according to the Environmental Defense Fund . “Even though CO2 has a longer-lasting effect, methane sets the pace for warming in the near term.”

 If consuming animal products is cut in half by mid-century, land used for agriculture would also decrease 12% instead of continuing to expand as the world’s population grows. Nitrogen used in farming would decrease as well, along with a 10% reduction in water use.

 Researchers said the effects of increasing plant-based food in global diets would leave fewer people hungry, estimating 31 million more would be better fed by 2050.

 The study noted interest in plant-based products has been increasing in recent years.

 

Despite their novelty, as of 2020 they have already gained popularity, with plant-based alternatives accounting for 15% of the milk market in the U.S. and 1.4% and 1.3% of the meat markets in the U.S. and Germany, respectively.