Research
27
Raising cattle for beef and leather produces a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are proven opportunities to cut pollution simply by increasing the number of animals per hectare of grazing land. CWR’s report sets out the options available
L
ivestock accounts for an enormous 7.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, 18 percent of manmade greenhouse gas emissions. CWR
research, however, suggests moderate intensifi cation of production could prevent an increase of billions of metric tons of CO2
.
There are many methods for cutting emissions, including improved pastures, diet intensifi cation, better land use and changing breeds. Total adoption of strategies could reduce emissions by 20.8 megatons of CO2
CWR puts livestock production under the microscope
Mt CO2 e reduction by 2030, while
increasing revenues for farmers and generating wealth for investors. Brazil’s carbon emissions are estimated at 5 Gt CO2
e
Brazil’s carbon emissions are
estimated at 5 Gt CO2
e annually,
with an estimated 55% coming from deforestation alone
annually, with an estimated 55 percent coming from deforestation alone. Annual deforestation is estimated at over 3 million hectares, with 80 percent attributed to cattle ranching. Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of beef and leather, has an estimated $5bn annual market that has grown
optimistic but plausible scenario of 23-30 percent adoption by 10.7 Mt CO2
e/year, and an e.
The total mitigation potential of all options would result in a 214 Mt CO2
e reduction by 2030, and 100% implementation would result in a 417
enormously in the last decade with exports quadrupling. It aims to double exports by 2018, increasing the number of cows to 100 million. This will accelerate deforestation. The primary cause is management
practice, which suggests one cow per hectare. Since usable land for cattle is likely to come at the expense of deforestation, doubling cattle exports would double CO2
Cattle ranching land area is so vast in the Amazon that with just a moderate increase in intensifi cation, to just over two cows per hectare, an area the size of California could be saved from deforestation. This could potentially provide a total annual mitigation of 0.9 Gt CO2 total mitigation of 6.5 Gt CO2
e/year, or e by 2018.
To accomplish this, $21.5bn dollars of capital is required. But the period of return on investment is just 4.5 years due to increased production. ||||
Report by Guy Pinjuv, PhD, biodiversity research fellow at Carbon War Room
e emissions by 2018.
Cattle ranching land area is so vast in the Brazilian Amazon that even a moderate level of intensifi cation, to just over two cows per hectare, could save an area the size of California
WWW.CARBONWARROOM.COM ISSUE 04. SEPTEMBER 2011
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