The Economist October 2nd 2021 pp73|Graphic detail Agricultural emissions|”Agriculture causes a surprisingly large share of greenhouse-gas emissions, and beef is the worst offender” “The beef with beef” “Treating cattle like coal would make a big dent in greenhouse-gas emission”
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Image from insideclimatenews.org
Summary offered by 2244
“Annual emissions from animal- and plant-based foods (CO2-equivalent gigatonnes from ten biggest sources, 2010”
Selected foods listed below
Plant-based: <0.2 Soyabeans, Potatoes, Maize, Sugarcane (0.4), Rice (2.1)
Animal-based: <0.2 Horse Meat, Eggs (0.3), Lamb (0.5), Chicken (0.9), Pork (1.2), Beef (4.3)
Another fact “It takes 33 plant calories to produce one calorie of beef.”
Total emissions from Japan for comparison 1.2 and Air Travel 0.85
In total agriculture accounts for 34% of global emissions of greenhouse gases principally methane (natural gas [mostly from cows]) and CO2. By comparison “cars, trains, ships and planes produce” only 16%. Looking at beef alone 66% is due to cows producing methane, 27% from land use changes and 7% from other sources like “animal feed, processing, transport, retail and packaging.”
When we look at electrical generation in “emissions per gigawatt hour, tonnes”, nuclear is nearly zero, hydropower about 30, biomass about 230, natural gas 500, oil 750 and coal about 850.
“One poll in 2014 found that steak was Americans’ favorite food’ but most are unaware that beef contributes heavily to global warming. Experts conclude that “forgoing steaks may be one of the most efficient ways to reduce your carbon footprint.”
Reducing beef consumption will have an immediate impact on methane production and accumulation. The alternatives like eating poultry, pork or other animals or eating more fruits and vegetables are the easiest way to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Some suggest that “lab-grown meats” and other new foods can help as well.