It is a commonly accepted prejudice that animal production, the consumption of meat and dairy products, is the greatest cause of global warming, i.e., it has the greatest negative impact on planet Earth, as represented by the ecological unit of carbon footprint. While it is scientifically proven that the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity and thermal energy accounts for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions, totaling 31% of annual emissions, followed by transportation at 15%, industrial production at 12.4%, and animal agriculture at 11%. Of course, this share of livestock production is not the same for all countries in the world, and the methodology for assessing the impact of livestock production on the environment varies and is not consistent across the globe. In addition to the actual production of animals and their use as food, a significant portion of the impact is also due to other anthropogenic activities in the supply chain from farm to table. The aim of this paper is therefore to take a critical look at all the stakeholders that contribute to the carbon footprint of meat and milk, and conclude by reflecting on how we all need to contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of meat and milk production.
