Food and Climate Change

I (along with many scientists) believe that agriculture's affect on the environment is being seriously underplayed and overlooked in Copenhagen as well as by the US government. As you probably already know, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change began in Copenhagen this week. Some folks have already dubbed it a failure because preliminary climate change negotiations didn't work and they believe no accord will be adopted that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I think that it is vitally important to do my part to add to the conversation about agriculture's impact on the environment and climate change. The Cool Foods Campaign has a good list of agriculture's contributions to climate change. They say, "It is imperative that the world shift away from industrial food systems and toward an ecological, organic food paradigm if we are to adequately address climate change." Their list doesn't address industrial animal agriculture specifically, but does recommend a shift away from industrial to sustainable (organic) farming practices.