Tackling Climate Change Through Livestock: A Global Assessment of Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities
Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2013, this assessment examined greenhouse gas emissions across global livestock supply chains, including feed production, animal production, manure management, processing and transport. Using life cycle assessment and the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM), the authors estimated annual emissions at 7.1 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent, or 14.5% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions under the report’s accounting framework. They also assessed opportunities to reduce emissions using existing practices and technologies.
What the study did and found
The FAO team assessed emissions from livestock supply chains using life cycle modelling, statistical data and scenarios. The estimate of 7.1 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually included methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide arising at different stages of production. Cattle accounted for approximately 65% of sector emissions, while feed production, processing and transport together contributed about 45%.
The report identified variation in emission intensity between species, regions and production systems. Improvements in feed quality, animal health, breeding, manure handling and production efficiency offered mitigation opportunities. Its scenarios suggested that broader adoption of existing practices and technologies could reduce livestock emissions by roughly 30%, equivalent to about 1.8 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually.
Why it is cited
The assessment established a widely cited global benchmark for livestock emissions by examining activities beyond the farm gate. Its 14.5% estimate highlighted the sector’s contribution within a defined accounting framework, while the large cattle share and differences in emission intensity helped identify where mitigation efforts might have the greatest effect.
It also connected emissions accounting with practical interventions rather than treating livestock production as a single uniform source. This combination made the report useful for comparing production systems and discussing targeted climate policies.
The figures are model-based estimates for conditions and data available to the 2013 assessment, not measurements of current global emissions. Results depend on system boundaries, production statistics, emission factors and assumptions about land use. The estimated 30% reduction represents technical potential under modelled scenarios, not reductions already achieved. Later assessments may use revised datasets and methods. Comparisons therefore require attention to reporting year, greenhouse gas metrics and the activities included in each supply chain. |
The topic today
Livestock-related climate research continues to examine enteric methane, manure emissions, feed production and land-use change. Strategies include improving animal health and productivity, adjusting feed, and managing manure more effectively, with outcomes varying by local conditions.
The FAO report remains a historical reference for understanding how emissions arise across livestock supply chains and why mitigation must be tailored to specific systems. Updated inventories are needed when assessing present-day emission levels and progress.