Soaring meat consumption demand will severely affect climate change

The point at which oil production reaches its peak is called peak oil.

It is predicted that oil production will increase sharply, and the reserves will reach its limit, and production will decrease sharply, causing severe energy shortages.

Similar term is 'Peak Meat'. Increasing incomes will continue to increase meat consumption, peaking in the 2030s and leading to a serious 'climate emergency'.

'Climate emergency' warning due to scientific 'peak meat'

Scientists who have been studying the global environment have been seriously concerned about the "peak meat" situation and have urged governments to take measures.

Last week, more than 50 scientists from Harvard, New York University, Indian Institute of Technology and Oregon State University posted letters to leaders in the British scientific journal Lancet Planetary Health and warned of an upcoming peak mitt.

The title of these papers published by these scientists is 'Scientists call for renewed Paris pledges to transform agriculture'.

In their opinion, these scientists feared that if the current consumption of meat increased, as in the 2030s, a "climatic emergency" is inevitably foretold.

The term 'climate emergency' is used by scientists from 1153 scientists from 153 countries in the advisory Warning of a Climate Emergency published in the November 7 issue of BuyerScience. I mean.

The Oxford Dictionary has selected the term 'word of the year 2019,' and scientists who warn of the 'micro peak' also use the term 'climate emergency'.

Scientists have been concerned that the recent surge in meat consumption is causing a catastrophic global environment.

As the livestock industry grows, more feed will have to be produced, and larger forests, such as the Brazilian rainforest, will be shifted to cover more feed. This suggests a scenario in which greenhouse gas emissions will increase significantly, leading to a 'climatic emergency' across the globe.

According to the scenario, if meat consumption increases at the same rate as before, the percentage of farmland for livestock raising will exceed 80% of the total farmland in the 2030s. This means that the earth's lungs, tropical forests, can be massively destroyed and converted into farmland.

Science calls for 'peak meat' to Paris agreement

According to international statistics, the recent increase in meat consumption is surprising.

Since the release of relevant data from the 1990 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), meat, milk and egg consumption has increased by 64.5% from 770 million tons to 127 million tons for 27 years until June 2017. .

The recommendation stresses the emergence of an emergency resulting from increased meat consumption and calls on government leaders to take action.

In particular, high- and middle-income countries (MIC) leaders, who are leading the rise in meat consumption, are urged to take four steps, including the addition of a `` peak mitt '' clause to the Paris Convention, issued at the end of 2016. .

The first step that scientists are calling for is about Peak Livestock, the point where the number of edible livestock reaches its peak. Livestock policy makers in each country advise to discuss a timeframe of how much meat to produce.

The second step is for farmers with large livestock farming to adjust their own livestock. In order to reduce the growth rate of meat consumption, the government should cooperate with the government to control the number of heads and minimize the social impact.

The third step is to change the agricultural structure at the national level. Above all, it raises the need to shift the diet focused on meat to other foods. He argued that diets should be improved to reduce environmental burdens and maximize human health.

The fourth measure advised the development of environmentally friendly farming methods. It is urged to pay attention to the development of agricultural methods to preserve ecosystem diversity and to make all human beings healthy, through the way that nature and humankind can co-prosper through a farming method aimed at nature conservation.

Scientists predict that as meat consumption increases, the proportion of farmland for livestock farming in the 2030s exceeds 80%, but only 18% of the total agricultural production can be produced.

Changes in meat-oriented agricultural structure not only accelerate global warming, but also lead to unproductive productivity of agriculture as a whole, and consequently lead to poorer and poorer people, which can lead to severe global food shortages.

"Human consultation is needed first to take the necessary steps," said Helen Harwatt, professor of Harvard University. He urged income-driven countries such as the United States and China to reach agreement.