Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, has witnessed a concerning rise in methane emissions, highlighting the adverse environmental impacts of its livestock-based economy. Methane emissions in Brazil surged 6% between 2020 and 2023 to 21.1 million tons, the second-highest amount ever recorded, according to a recent analysis from the Climate Observatory. The results put fresh pressure on Brazil to reconsider its agricultural methods in advance of hosting COP 30 later this year, as beef and dairy livestock account for three-fourths of these emissions.

Beef and Dairy at the Center of the Methane Crisis

According to the report, Brazil’s cattle industry is the country’s single most significant source of methane emissions, accounting for 14.5 million tons of emissions in 2023. This amounts to 406 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, which is more than Italy’s total yearly emissions of greenhouse gases. Methane traps more than 80 times as much heat in the atmosphere over 20 years as CO₂, while having a shorter half-life.

Methane emissions in Brazil surged 6%, primarily caused by the digestion of livestock manure and its management, in contrast to many other major emitters, such as China and the US, where fossil fuels are the primary source. The largest source is still cattle belching, which is a byproduct of ruminant digestion. To a lesser degree, animal waste and irrigated rice farming also contribute to the issue.

Brazil has the second-largest cattle herd in the world, and its economy relies heavily on meat exports. Since the nation exports cattle and related goods to several global markets, any such adjustments would be politically and financially delicate. Experts contend that if this trend continues, Brazil’s climate pledges and international reputation could be jeopardized.

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Pressure to Innovate and Global Comparisons

Environmental experts emphasize that Brazil needs to develop its own strategies to reduce methane emissions from livestock. In contrast to emissions caused by fossil fuels in other nations, Brazil’s problem is with its food production systems, according to David Tsai, coordinator of the Climate Observatory’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals Estimates System.

The Brazilian NGO Imaflora‘s greenhouse gas specialist, Gabriel Quintana, cited New Zealand as an example of mitigation. New Zealand, another country that heavily depends on cattle, has taken action to reduce methane by investing in methane-reducing devices, managing pastures, and improving livestock diets. According to experts, Brazil could implement such policies to reduce emissions without jeopardizing its agricultural product exports.

Time is of the essence. Brazil will hold COP 30, a significant climate summit that will highlight the nation’s environmental policy, in Belém in November. As the fifth-largest methane emitter in the world, behind China, the US, India, and Russia, the nation’s efforts to address this issue could serve as a model for other countries that raise livestock.

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