Livestock Production, Climate Change, and Human Health: Closing the Awareness Gap

Abstract

Livestock should be removed from public lands for myriad reasons. Eliminating what is now extensive grazing by ruminants would cut methane emissions, with attendant benefits for climate mitigation. Removing livestock from public lands also mirrors federal nutrition policy, particularly the recommendation to eat less red meat. Much of the degraded environmental conditions on public lands and waters caused by ruminant grazing would end, thereby enabling improvement or even recovery. Finally, undertaking this policy shift would make fiscal sense by saving taxpayer dollars.

Keywords: Livestock production, climate change, diet, methane emissions, public-land grazing

JEL Classification: D6, H41, H42, H51, H59, I12, I18, K19, K32, L50, Q15, Q18, Q28