While most blame Big Oil [fossil fuel industry] for the Climate Emergency, it is actually Big Ag that plays a bigger part in it! Or let's say, "brothers in arms". The Economics of Ecosystems for Agriculture and Food programme or TEEBAgriFood report details how this is happening now. More than 150 scholars from thirty-three countries came together to evaluate the impact of and solutions for our food and agricultural systems [teebweb.org].
The group reported that 43-57% of human-created greenhouse gas emissions are from "our" [who really owns/controls it?] "food" [are nutritionally deficient, abused animals, chemically laden things "food"?] system. This estimation includes soil loss, deforestation, factory farms, food waste, food transportation, refrigeration/freezing, and processing/packaging.
Mapping out a very different future, their Scientific and Economic Foundations report confronts some of the largest global challenges today that are linked to the food and agriculture systems. These include climate change, environmental damage, loss of biodiversity and others.
What is needed is a "system thinking" approach, drawing out issues related to health, nutrition, equity and livelihoods. A framework to evaluate and apply to these areas is necessary.
If you think it's the animals to blame, you need to read about Regenerative Agriculture. See my article "It's Not The Cow - It's The How". We need to ACT now: practising, educating and demanding such system thinking across the world. Be an engaged citizen before it's too late.
