According to PIK researcher Prof. Lotze-Campen, meat consumption and livestock numbers must be reduced by 50 % if Germany still wants to meet the Paris climate targets by 2050.
Climate researcher Prof. Hermann Lotze-Campen sees massive economic challenges ahead for the livestock and feed sectors. "In order to achieve the 2°degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement, a reduction in livestock numbers of at least 50 % by 2050 is necessary," the agricultural economist warned at the annual conference of the German Pet Food Association (DVT) in Berlin last Friday.
Lotze-Campen conceded that emissions pricing and associated efficiency improvements in feed utilisation, farm manure management or the use of certain additives in ruminant feeds have a not inconsiderable savings potential. Nevertheless, all long-term modelling assumed that a reduction in the consumption of animal products by at least half would be necessary to achieve the 2°degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement.
The next 30 years are crucial
According to the scientist, the climate-related economic damage to agriculture will be enormous should the politically set emissions reduction targets be missed. "Every tenth of a degree of warming increases the climate-related risks," warned the head of the "Climate Resilience" department at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The next 30 years are therefore crucial for long-term development.
Translated with DeepL
https://www.topagrar.com/management-und-politik/news/klimaforscher-tierbestand-muss-halbiert-werden-13204592.html
