CHARACTERIZATION OF POPULATION PRESSURE IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION CYCLE TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the impact of population pressure on carbon dioxide emission. The study made use of a path analysis to test the fit of the correlation matrix against two or more causal models which are being compared. The model is usually depicted in a circle-and-arrow figure in which single-headed arrows indicate causation. A regression is done for each variable in the model as a dependent on others which the model indicates are causes. The study concludes that population control is the key to minimizing the carbon dioxide emission accumulated in the atmosphere. Population pressure pushes the increase in beef production which in turn adds to the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Correspondingly, increased population directly contributes to carbon dioxide emission. The researcher also found out that each additional human individual equates to three (3) cattle raised in terms of their relative carbon dioxide contribution in the earth's atmosphere. Thus, an unregulated cattle industry that does not take into account limits on the number of cattle raised domestically based on human population growth is likely to lead to adverse impacts on climate change.