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Increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases,
for a warming effect

Global changes to land surface, such as deforestation,
for a warming effect

Increasing atmospheric concentrations of aerosols,
mainly for a cooling effect

The temperature of the Earth is regulated by Green House Effect.

Green House gases (GHG) primarily Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Water vapour and Nitrous Oxide
trap the outgoing heat radiation from dissipating into space.

But a sudden increase in these gases can disturb the equilibrium maintained for thousands of years.

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Human activities is causing CO₂ , methane and nitrous oxide concentrations in the atmosphere to rise, majorly via:

1. Power stations, many of which burn coal or other fossil fuels
2. Industrial processes
3. Transportation fuels, generally fossil fuels
4. Agricultural, livestock and their by-products

About two-thirds of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions were produced from burning fossil fuels

About one-third of emissions from changes in land use, primarily deforestation

Worldwide, livestock production occupies:

– 70% of all land used for agriculture, or
– 30% of the ice-free land surface of the Earth.

Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions,
more than the combined exhaust from all transportation.

Livestock and their byproducts account for at least
51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions

Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide
– a greenhouse gas with 296 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide
and which stays in the atmosphere for 150 years

Various forms of climate change, chiefly cooling effects, are attributed to aerosols.
Key sources  include:

– Biomass burning such as deforestation.
– Industrial air pollution, which produces soot and airborne sulfates, nitrates, and ammonium
– Dust produced by land use effects such as desertification

– Emissions for agriculture projected to increase 80% by 2050

– Energy related emissions expected to increase 20% by 2040

– US Methane emissions from livestock and natural gas are nearly equal

– Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day

– Even without fossil fuels, we will exceed our 565 giga tonnes carbon dioxide limit by 2030, all from raising animals