In the world of environmental activism, journalism and media, climate change is the fundamental topic; with so much discussion on carbon emissions reduction, global warming, international summits and frameworks, and artworks, it has become one of the dominant topics of the early part of this early part of the 21st century.

Carbon emissions, which are widely blamed for the problem of global warming and climate change, contribute to this problem from a variety of sources. One, which it is argued is not widely enough discussed, is the production of food, and animal farming.

The issue surrounding methods of farming, then, is not simply a matter of animal cruelty: it is deeply affecting the level of carbon being released daily into the atmosphere.

UK Green Party leader and British MEP produced a report on the subject in April 2009. In it, she called for a drive for greater awareness of the carbon emissions problem in relation to animal farming. She wrote that,

“While climate experts and animal protection organisations know all too well that a staggering 18% of harmful greenhouse gas emissions world-wide are produced by animal farming (according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation), public awareness of the contribution to climate change of animal-based agriculture is low, and political activity almost non-existent.

I believe that the government should work to increase public awareness of the climate impact of our food products, through labelling schemes and publicity campaigns for example, and that measures to reduce consumption of animal products should be vigorously promoted. Rules on the procurement of food by public bodies such as the NHS and local authorities should start to take account of the climate impact of food. I would also like to see support and encouragement for farmers to switch from intensive livestock farming to growing food crops for human consumption“.

In terms of farming and food quality, then, it is not simply from the point of view of animal rights, and even human welfare, but from its dangerous effect and on the environment and its contribution to global warming.

A little under looked, it is a problem that, with the increased political prominence of the Green Party, may rise on the political-environmental agenda.

Undoubtedly, the issue is a difficult one, because food production is a necessity of society, and cheap food – which at current is produced, often through cheap methods – is also a necessity; if food is a basic, fundamental need, then everyone must have the ability to purchase it.

For that to continue, the cost of an energy efficiency change in the industry would have to go to the producer and manufacturers.

A Copy of the ‘Making Tracks Report’ can be found at Caroline Lucas’ personal website.

Posted under Articles, Health

It has been reported that aquaculture, in which fish are bred and reared specifically for food consumption, now makes up around half of the total seafood consumed each year for food.

This is put an increasing demand on both the industry and on sea-life, claim some, and Stanford University professor of environmental earth system science, Rosamond Naylor, discussed the problems that the growing demands of aquaculture are placing upon sea-life. She stated that,

“Aquaculture is set to reach a landmark in 2009, supplying half of the total fish and shellfish for human consumption…The huge expansion is being driven by demand…As long as we are a health-conscious population trying to get our most healthy oils from fish, we are going to be demanding more of aquaculture and putting a lot of pressure on marine fisheries to meet that need.

It can take up to 5 pounds of wild fish to produce 1 pound of salmon, and we eat a lot of salmon…Reducing the amount of fish oil in the salmon’s diet definitely gets you a lot more bang for the buck than reducing the amount of fishmeal…Our thirst for long-chain omega-3 oils will continue to put a lot of strain on marine ecosystems, unless we develop commercially viable alternatives soon“.

A growing aquaculture industry, then, could present a real threat to marine life, and is a timely reminder that climate change and global warming are not the sole problems in the environmental sphere; species endangerment, too, is a very real problem, and the world’s marine life is certainly under a genuine threat.

Indeed, calls for a sustainable policy towards fishing and aquaculture are not unfounded. At the current rate of consumption marine life is under serious strain, and this will understandably have a negative impact on the marine life itself, not to mention on food levels and human consumpti0n.

Further, the previously discussed alternatives, are, according to Naylor, less viable than was previously thought:

“Our assumption about farmed tilapia and carp being environmentally friendly turns out to be wrong in aggregate, because the sheer volume is driving up the demand“.

Source: Science Daily

Posted under Articles, Environmental News