Animal agriculture — not automobiles — the greater threat to our air

A response to “Legislature fiddles while Connecticut’s carbon dioxide levels rise” by Don Strait: Like most other so-called “environmentalists,” Mr. Strait completely ignores the greater source of environmental degradation. Fifty-one percent of all greenhouse gases emitted is due to animal agriculture — NOT the fossil fuels we burn.

Animal agriculture is the cause of 65 percent of the nitrous oxide produced, which is 296 times more destructive than carbon dioxide. The emissions from animal agriculture are projected to increase 80 percent by 2050. Even without fossil fuels, we will exceed the carbon dioxide limit by 2030, all from raising animals for food consumption.

This does not even take into account the toll animal agriculture has on the rain forest, the ocean, the useable water we have left, or world hunger. We waste millions of acres growing grains for animals that could feed humans. We waste millions of acres for grazing animals that we could use to grow food for humans. The enormous costs of animal agriculture are kept from the public. That dollar hamburger would cost $13 if not for taxpayer subsidies to the animal agricultural industry that artificially keep prices low.

No one who ignores these realities can call themselves environmentalists. Watch Cowspiracy to get the real story.

Krystal Bagnaschi is an intern at the Office of the Community Lawyer in Winsted.