Agriculture is a major source
of carbon and methane emissions, which in turn are responsible for the general
trend of the warming of the planet’s atmosphere and oceans. In fact,
agriculture emits more than all of the cars on the roads. 10 percent of the
emissions carbon dioxide and methane in the U.S. come from the agricultural
sector. Livestock is the biggest source of methane. Cows, for example, emit
methane. Methane from a number or sources, including the thawing permafrost, accounted
for 30 percent of global warming in 2023. As global population has grown exponentially
since the early 1900s, herds of livestock at farms have expanded, at least in
the U.S., due to the increasing demand.[1]
We are biological animals, and we too must eat. More people means that more
food is needed, and the agricultural lobby in the U.S. is not about to let the
governments require every resident to become a vegetarian. Indeed, the economic
and political power of the large agribusinesses in the U.S. have effectively
staved off federal and state regulations regarding emissions. It comes down to
population, capitalism, and plutocracy warping democracy.
1. Georgina Gustin, “Climate Change and Agriculture,” Yale University, February 22, 2024.
