Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: SAFE For Animals
The latest report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released overnight shows that global emissions are now on track to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees celsius warning limit, reaching 3.2 degrees celsius by the end of the century.
SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said urgent action is needed to address the serious damage caused by animal agriculture.
“The IPCC has said ‘it’s now or never’ and we need to listen,” said Ashton.
SAFE’s recently launched Done with Dairy campaign has called out the dairy industry for being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Aotearoa. The campaign is calling on the Government to urgently create a plan to support farmers to transition out of the sector.
“Our largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is animal agriculture. If we don’t start transitioning now, we’ll be facing a much tougher task in years to come. “
The IPCC warned that to avoid catastrophic outcomes, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 and be reduced by 43% by 2030. At the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third.
The dairy industry accounts for 22.4% and is Aotearoa’s biggest climate polluter. In the last 30 years, the industry’s total emissions have grown 132%.
Recently, the Netherlands initiated a plan to assist their farmers and reduce the impact of intensive animal agriculture. Farmers will have access to a buy-out scheme to either exit the industry, or transition to more sustainable farming systems.
“We need radical change if we’re going to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Aotearoa needs to urgently implement policies that shifts our economy towards sustainable plant-based agriculture.”
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
– The dairy industry is Aotearoa’s biggest climate polluter. In the last 30 years, the industry’s total emissions have grown 132%.
– The dairy industry uses over 13 billion litres of water per year. That’s eleven times our entire yearly domestic water use.
– Since 1990, the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applied to soils in Aotearoa has increased over 600%.
– 82% of waterways in farming areas are unfit for swimming.
– Up to 800,000 New Zealanders may have increased bowel cancer risk due to nitrates in water.
– 76% of native freshwater fish are now threatened by, or at risk of extinction.
– Avoiding the worst impacts of climate change may be possible if we reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions. These are the two main gases produced by dairy cows through their effluent and the high use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. These gases are stronger than CO2 and have a shorter lifespan in our atmosphere, meaning a reduction of these gases will help slow down climate change even faster than a reduction of CO2.
