Food production in Brazil is 74% of emissions, Climate Observatory study shows
Nearly 78% of the 1.8bn tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted in Brazil because of food production was associated with cattle farming, says Climate Observatory / Bernard Dupont
By Roberta Harrington in Los Angeles
November 2, 2023
Brazil’s food production made up 74% of the country’s emissions in 2021, according to a new study by Climate Observatory.
Most of these emissions come from deforestation for farms and pastures, the environmental group said. Brazil is the world's largest producer of beef and soybeans.
"This report should be read by agribusiness representatives and the government as a wake-up call," Climate Observatory Executive Secretary Marcio Astrini said. "It demonstrates, beyond any doubt, that agribusiness will determine whether Brazil is a climate hero or villain."
This comes shortly after another study found that human-caused climate change was behind the recent early-spring record heat in South America, including Brazil. The study, by World Weather Attribution (WWA), found that while El Nino may have had “some influence” on the high temperatures, climate change was the “main driver” of the heat, making it much more likely and a startling 1.4ºC-4.3ºC hotter.
Nearly 78% of the 1.8bn tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted in Brazil because of food production was associated with cattle farming, according to Climate Observatory. This included deforestation, pollution from beef packing plants, and cow burps and flatulence.
Brazil's beef industry would be the world's seventh-largest GHG emitter, ahead of major economies such as Japan, Reuters reported.
bneGREEN
Goal is to expedite energy transition and facilitate the deployment of 1.7 GW of new renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The COP28 talks in Dubai to save the planet from a climate catastrophe look like they are going to fall at the first fence as the oil lobby and some big economies push for a “phasing down” of fossil fuels, rather than the “phasing out”.
By wasting less food and eating less meat and dairy, consumers can help to slow down climate change. However, consumers in the EU have barely changed their diets.
Researcher concludes that country “has set an emission target that it can almost achieve without any serious action”.
The great and good have assembled in UAE’s capital of Dubai for the COP28 conference to hash out a plan to avert the looming environmental disaster, but its probably too late.
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