For climate's sake! Let's fence in factory farming

As wildfires burn in western Canada and footage from extreme weather events around the globe fills our daily news feeds, it’s increasingly difficult to ignore the impact of our changing climate.

Yet according to the April 30 report by Canada’s Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has failed to develop a meaningful strategy for the agriculture sector to achieve its 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

In contrast to the department’s goal of reducing agriculture emissions by 40 to 45 per cent by 2030, the sector’s emissions are actually up 39 per cent, a steeper rise than in any other sector except oil and gas.

The report recognizes that animal production represents more than half of all agricultural emissions in Canada. Of the total, industrial livestock operations — or factory farms — disproportionately contribute to emissions, while small and medium farm operators in provinces such as Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia disproportionately suffer the consequences of climate disasters.

Clearly any emissions mitigation strategy must include measures to address emissions from animal production, including a shift to more plant-based consumption.

This is in line with UN recommendations. In an open letter from leading scientists to the World Health Organization, experts predict that without urgent and drastic shifts in global meat consumption, agriculture will consume the entire world’s carbon budget necessary for keeping global temperature rises under 2C by 2050.

A 2021 report by UK-based Chatham House highlights encouraging plant-based diets as a key lever to create a more sustainable food system. And a 2022 study from the University of Bonn states that developed countries will need to cut meat consumption by at least 75 per cent to make the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Navius Research found that if Canadians were to move from a high-meat consumption diet to a low meat-consumption one, the impact on greenhouse gas emissions would be significant: a 13.5 megatonne reduction by 2030 and 19.2 megatonnes by 2050 — enough to put Canada on track to meet its targets. Moreover, achieving these reductions by reducing meat consumption would cost the economy 11 per cent less than other options where animal consumption remains at current levels.

Canadians consume nearly double the global average of meat, but a shift to more plant-based consumption is already starting, due to concerns including environmental, health, cost and animal welfare. Forty per cent of Canadians say they’re trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets.

Canada’s critically-acclaimed and evidence-based food guide promotes a diet that is largely plant-based, with only small amounts of animal protein, for health and environment. The food guide should be promoted to accelerate the shift to healthier and more sustainable diets, including in federal institutions. (A separate report from the environment commissioner identified federal public procurement as the tool over which the government has the most control in achieving its carbon objectives.) The newly-announced national school food program represents an immediate opportunity to help drive this shift.

Forward-looking institutions across Canada, including universities and hospitals, have adopted plant-focused menus in their food service venues. The University of Victoria has made plant-based food the default at its food venues, giving people the choice to opt in for meals with animal products. Vancouver General Hospital has piloted new plant-rich menu items for the health of patients and the planet.

Canada’s two largest cities — Toronto and Montreal — are among the 16 cities across the globe that have signed onto C40, an initiative to reduce emissions and make cities greener. The “food accelerator” component of the program involves cities committing to increasing their procurement of plant-based, sustainable foods.

Other countries have begun to acknowledge and address the impact of animal agriculture on climate. Last year, Denmark published the first-ever national action plan for plant-based foods, which includes funding for start-ups, requirements for public procurement and training of chefs.

Support for plant-based proteins helps the environment, improves the health of Canadians and benefits animal welfare. And with the economic benefits of the plant-based sector estimated to be as high as US$31 trillion by 2050, there’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canada to become a global leader in plant-based proteins.

With Earth’s resources being pushed to the limit and Mother Nature pushing back, it is more urgent than ever to reduce land pressures and the emissions resulting from the food we eat. This effort must include a shift toward more plant-based agriculture.

Colin Saravanamuttoo is the executive director of World Animal Protection Canada.