The report found that people in the Netherlands consume around 33kg of pork per person per year and 23kg of chicken. Brazilians eat 41kg of chicken and 12kg of pork each year. And, people in the USA eat 24kg of pork and 50kg of chicken. Also in China, pork is the most
consumed meat, with 26kg per person and 14kg of chicken. This result suggests that the world food system is on an unsustainable trajectory, with consumption of factory farmed meat expected to increase in most parts of the world.

World Animal Protection recommends that people eat less and better meat to help save the planet. Reducing pork per person by 50% by 2040 would result in a 41% decrease in climate change impacts from pork consumption in China, 54% decrease for the EU, 44% for Brazil and 43% for the USA. For chickens, a 50% reduction in consumption by 2040 would result in a 44% decrease in climate change impacts from chicken consumption in China, 48% for the EU, 42% for Brazil and 41% for the USA. Thus, the more chicken and pork consumption decreases in coming decades, the greater the benefits to the climate and planet.

Also, substantial reductions in meat consumption would help reduce the profit margin of factory farms. This would make them increasingly unsustainable and ultimately a less appealing prospect for the businesses investing in them. This would be a welcome step towards a humane a sustainable future containing far fewer farmed animals. High welfare animal production can support the environment rather than factory farming destroying it.

More importantly, a change in the food system from animal-based to plant-based diets is highly recommended. An increase in plant-based diets would unlock land for wildlife habitat while helping to restore the planet’s natural balance.

Consumers play a key role to reduce the impact on factory farms on the climate. However, governments and policy makers have the power to hold the powerful factory farming industry to account. Considering the damage the industry inflicts on the climate, governments can direct subsidies and tax exemptions away from factory farm. This, combined with significant reductions in meat consumption will help to cripple factory farming financially and reveal the humane and sustainable future in food security.
Methane from animal manure is a significant component of the overall climate impact of pork production in factory farms, accounting for 21% of emissions from pork for the Netherlands, 22% for the USA, and 24% for Brazil.

The study therefore noted that a 50% reduction in consumption of both chicken and pork by 2040, along with a 50% adoption of higher welfare products would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 210 million metric tons in 2040.