How do current climate challenges affect future generations?
We hear a lot about climate change and the challenges we are going to face in the near future if we don’t make some critical changes. But, what is climate change?
Climate change is the variation in the Earth's climate as a result of the “greenhouse effect”, which is the consequence of the increase in gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation. This phenomenon causes the increase and retention of heat in the atmosphere which leads to climate alterations and extreme environmental conditions.
We talk a lot about greenhouse gases but, do you know them? It’s very difficult to try to come up with a solution when we don’t know or understand what we are facing. In order of importance, the greenhouse gases that cause climate change are:
Carbon dioxide (76%) resulting from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation for agricultural purposes.
Methane gas (16%) derived mainly from agricultural activities (including factory farms), manure management, and the enteric digestion of ruminants.
Nitrous oxide** (6%) as a result of soil fertilization and manure management.
Other fluorinated gases (2%) as a consequence of certain industrial processes.
**Nitrous oxide is better known as the laughing gas (dentists use it to make any procedure in your mouth easier) but it is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Although it represents a low percentage, its increase in the last 4 decades has tripled. It is well said that the climate impact of laughing gas is no joke and the agriculture industry must start to address this issue as crucial.
Why are industrial farms an environmental problem?
Globally, agriculture (including factory farms), forestry, and other land uses are the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases and experts estimate that methane emissions will double by 2030.
Think about it… large concentrations of animals, manure, urine, and corpses cause damage to the ecosystems and the natural resources of the planet. One way industrial farms get rid of waste is by dumping it into the water. As a result, it is common for areas with the highest concentration of factory farms to experience serious water quality problems that affect both humans and wildlife, as well as various water systems such as underground streams, streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Furthermore, the intensive agriculture required to feed large numbers of confined animals depends on the intensive use of fossil fuels, the synthesis of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and petroleum-based chemicals (pesticides and herbicides).
According to the trends projected by the UN, if current levels of greenhouse gas emissions persist, the global average temperature will continue to rise and will exceed—in this decade—the goal established in the Paris Agreement. We may not realize it, but our diets and lifestyles leave a trail of destruction. The irony is that the only ones harmed by excessive exploitation and production will be ourselves: human beings. The planet will recover, but if this rate of wear continues, it is likely that this healing process will not include us as a species. It is necessary to stop and realize that our actions today rob the quality of future life of our children, our grandchildren, and the generations to come.
But there is some light at the end of the tunnel. To reverse the effects of climate change, it is necessary to merge two actions: 1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 2) rehabilitate soils, forests, and marine ecosystems to facilitate the “carbon sequestration” of the atmosphere. One easy way to restore soils is through regenerative agriculture and farming. If we reduce these emissions and simultaneously restore our soils and terrestrial and marine ecosystems, we could quickly and successfully reverse the effects of climate change.