COP21 Forgot Farm Animals

PARIS, France, December 11, 2015 (ENS) – Dame Jane Goodall travels the globe 300+ days each year – with a cow – a small black and white stuffed toy. The British scientist and UN Messenger of Peace is also an animal activist.

Goodall describes Cow’s life with a twinkle in her eye. “Cow works hard. She is a spokesperson for abused farm animals.”

Cow also helps Goodall explain to the world the relationship between methane gas (CH4) and global warming.

Dame Jane Goodall, with Cow in her carrying bag, walks with a friend in the hallway of the COP21 conference venue at Paris-LeBourget, Dec. 2015 (Photo courtesy Earth Negotiations Bulletin)

Dame Jane Goodall, with Cow in her carrying bag, walks with a friend along the hallway of the COP21 conference venue at Paris-LeBourget, Dec. 2015 (Photo courtesy Earth Negotiations Bulletin)

During the 2015 United Nations climate change talks, COP21, Dame Goodall and Azzedine Downes, president and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, came to Paris to discuss animals and global warming. The two talked conservation and answered questions during an after-hours event at the Paris Museum of Science and Industry.

Both Goodall and Downes, renowned animal conservation thought leaders, are amazed that the world is not yet willing to seriously consider the climate consequences of the world’s ever-increasing appetite for meat. Yet they have hope.

Downes said, “While humans have damaged the Earth, we also have the power to save it.”

“If we can harness this positive will,” he said, “I am forever hopeful that we can protect our planet and all those that live within it – both animals and people.”

COP21 is the 21st meeting of the 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC. During the two-week meeting, which opened November 30, government delegates have been negotiating the text of a new universal, legally-binding climate agreement to limit emissions of six greenhouse gases.

Yet, animal agribusiness and the impact of methane emissions on global warming was mentioned only once in the COP21 venue here in Paris, when the Humane Society International sponsored a side event open to all.

Dame Jane Goodall primatologist, conservationist and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Sept. 2015 (Photo by Mark Garten courtesy United Nations)

Methane is produced during an animal’s digestive process and when animal manure is stored in holding areas.

Total methane emissions from global livestock as reported by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization “is 7.1 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent per year.” This “represents 14.5 percent of all anthropogenic GHG emissions.”

Methane emissions from animal agriculture are 12.8 percent of the EU’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 10 percent of U.S. total GHG emissions.

The EU produces 8.3 billion animals annually for food, while the United States raises more than 10 billion animals annually for food.

Jo Leinen, a Member of the European Parliament representing Germany, was on the Humane Society International panel for the group’s event. He has long been a champion for both the environment and animal welfare. He decries the fact that animal agriculture usually hurts animals, human health, and the planet.

Cows on a ranch, Lake Isabella, California, 2013 (Photo by Randy Heinitz)

MEP Leinen estimates that 76 billion animals are raised and killed around the globe each year for food production. “Meat contributes more to GHG emissions then worldwide traffic,” he says.

“As a child, we were poor and were happy to have meat on the table on Sunday,” said Leinen. “It is “completely unreasonable that as we got wealthier we have meat every morning for breakfast, for lunch, and for supper.”

“With a world of seven billion [people], and tomorrow 10 billion, if everyone eats meat like this we can forget about climate,” Leinen warned.

Water utilization is another harm to the planet resulting from animal agriculture. The foods that we eat each have a “water footprint” – the number of gallons of water required to produce a pound of food. At least 1,800 gallons of water are used to produce one pound of beef steak.

Putting animal cruelty aside, the amount of water used to produce meat and the impact of methane on global warming are only the beginning of meat production’s environmental harms. In addition, the Earth is scarred by land degradation, water pollution, and air pollution.

An Italian man enjoys his steak (Photo by Sifalcia)

Jon Rockström moderated the Humane Society International program and shared the panel.

Rockström is a renowned climate scientist, 2009 Swede of the Year, and thought leader on the challenges of water resources, food production, health, and global sustainability. Although he worries about the impact on human health of antibiotics used in animal agriculture, he is optimistic.

“If we get it right on food, we get it right for both people and planet,” Rockström said.

Humane Society International is raising awareness in politicians, scientists, physicians and consumers. The organization is working to get animal agribusiness a landing place in multilateral agreements.

MEP Leinen is already taking action in his capacity as President of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with China.

Concerned about cruel and unhealthy animal production in China, he recently announced change, saying, “From now on, the issue of animal welfare will be on the agenda in future talks between EU MEPs and their Chinese counterparts.”

The message delivered by the handful of experts discussing animal agriculture and animal welfare on the sidelines of COP21 is clear. “Less meat, less heat” helps the environment, humans, and animals.

Farm animals will not be mentioned in the 2015 Paris Agreement. But, advocates promise that agribusiness will be on the agenda of the post-Paris cycle.