The Complex Relationship Between Dairy and Climate Change
- ywacc.ngo
- Dec 10, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 9, 2021
Hi everyone! We hope you had a relaxing and safe holiday, and we’re excited for this week’s post. Today’s article will examine the complex relationship between dairy and climate change. If you haven’t done research about this topic prior, at first this claim may seem a bit absurd. What do cows have to do with global warming? It seems awfully rude to label an entire species responsible for this massive threat, but in actuality, cattle and the dairy industry significantly impact our environment.
According to The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), between the years of 2005 and 2015, the greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cattle increased by 18 percent! Researchers attribute this increase to the growing global population and the rising demand for dairy products. Furthermore, according to Our World in Data, 26% of greenhouse gas emissions come directly from food production. These are statistically significant numbers, and we don’t have the luxury to ignore this growing threat any longer.
But wait- how do cows contribute to greenhouse gasses? How is it possible for cows to have an environmental impact comparable to humans who drive cars, planes, and pollute their ecosystems? It is possible. Greenhouse gasses, methane being the most prevalent in this scenario, is initially produced as the cow digests its food. As the cow excretes its waste forming manure, the improper management and handling of manure on farms can cause this greenhouse gas to be released. Methane isn’t the only gas responsible for doing damage however, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide are also released during different stages of dairy farming.
In a BBC article entitled, “Can dairy adapt to climate change?,” author Emily Kasriel interviews farmer Hannah Edwards, who has tended a herd of Holstein Cows for eleven years. Edwards speaks about the environment fondly and explains the responsibility farmers have to maintain and protect the Earth’s land, a statement that seems contradictory given her occupation. Edwards states, “Obviously climate change is happening. Greenhouse gases are helped by humans, isn't it. Part of it is a natural process, like when the Ice Age ended. But it is speeded up, there's no doubt about that. And what about the role of farmers? Farmers have an extra responsibility to take care both of the environment and of emissions.”
While I certainly acknowledge and respect Edwards views, they seem conflicting in my mind. I’m not here to propose a universal solution to completely boycott the dairy industry, this solution isn’t viable nor sustainable. Instead, I’m writing this article to inform others and potentially guide others to make the choice to reduce the amount of dairy products they consume in their everyday lives.
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