How Factory Farming Emissions Are Worsening Climate Disasters In The Global South
World Animal Protection
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Abstract: This report by World Animal Protection exposes the disproportionate impact of factory farming emissions on climate disasters in the Global South. Rooted in climate attribution science, it finds that factory farming?primarily in the Global North?contributes approximately 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with devastating downstream effects such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves in vulnerable regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Using case studies, including the 2022 Pakistan floods, the report estimates climate-related economic losses exceeding USD 100 billion annually by 2050, with factory farming responsible for a substantial share. The expansion of industrial livestock systems threatens traditional agroecological practices and livelihoods, especially among women and smallholder farmers. Despite growing evidence, policy responses remain inadequate, while large meat conglomerates reap record profits. The report advocates for a moratorium on new factory farms, withdrawal of subsidies supporting industrial livestock, and global investment in humane, agroecological systems. It calls on COP28 leaders to uphold climate justice, enforce the ?polluter pays? principle, and redirect support toward sustainable food systems to safeguard people, animals, and the planet.