The City of West Hollywood has reportedly adopted an ordinance that requires plant-based food to be served at all city events, with meat available only upon request. The city’s goal is to reduce the impact that meat and dairy production has on climate change: Livestock emit anywhere from 11% to nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet.
I caught up with three USC experts to shed some light on the city’s decision. They also responded to some of the wider questions surrounding meat and dairy production and the health benefits of a plant-based diet.
The Experts
Katherine Baker is post-doctoral fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, where she researches the intersection of nutrition and climate change.
Wändi Bruine de Bruin is Provost Professor of Public Policy, Psychology, and Behavior Science at the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. She is also director of the USC Behavioral Science and Well Being Policy Initiative.
Kayla de la Haye is associate professor (research) of Psychology and Spatial Sciences at USC Dornsife and director of the Institute for Food System Equity at the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research.
Their answers have been edited for length.
Q: What are the environmental impacts from cattle and dairy farming other than greenhouse gas emissions?
Baker: Livestock farming uses large amounts of fresh water. Additionally, livestock farming requires a lot of land. Oftentimes this land needs to be cleared for livestock, which is why livestock farming is a leading cause of deforestation, which contributes to biodiversity loss or extinction of some species. Many farmed animals are also treated with antibiotics, which can runoff into the environment and damage ecosystems. Livestock farming also emits things like ammonia, which can be damaging to human and environmental health.