Posted on 11/29/2006 5:48:02 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
Rome (dpa) - Farm animal manure produces more greenhouse gas emissions than cars.
The surprise finding is the result of a report published Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
According to the UN agency's Livestock's Long Shadow -Environmental Issues and Options report, the global livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent 18 per cent than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.
``Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is required to remedy the situation,'' said Henning Steinfeld, head of FAO's Livestock Information and Policy Branch and senior author of the report.
The animals' digestive system also produces dangerously high quantities of methane and ammonia, which contributes significantly to acid rain.
The world's livestock sector is growing fast and now uses up nearly a third of the earth's entire land surface as increased prosperity induces people to consume more meat and dairy products.
According to the report, global meat production is projected to more than double from 229 million tonnes in the 1999-2001 period to 465 million tonnes in 2050. Milk output is set to climb from 580 to 1043 million tonnes over the same period, FAO said.
Potential remedies identified by the report include controlling access and removing obstacles to mobility on common pastures; payment schemes for environmental services in livestock-based land use; and improving animals' diets to reduce intestinal fermentation and consequent methane emissions.
No problem where I live; just about every last square foot of farmland has been replaced with housing developments and shopping, er, "Lifestyle" centers.
Must of been really bad when dinosuars roamed the earth.
Shut down Congress, ASAP!!!
The real answer is fewer humans overall, and make those that remain vegans.
THAT's what "these people" seek.
Oh, and a 7th-century technoogy level for the masses, but not the privileged few in government.
The factually inclined person understands that CO2 is not a pollutant, but rather it is a nutrient for those organisms on the carbon sink side of the carbon cycle.
Isn't there any way to make power or fuel from manure & sewage? I'm serious. It's a constantly renewable source. I would love nothing more than for someone to come up with a way for us to dispense with using crude oil all together.
No $h!t!
Someone ask scientists the question: What would happen if there was no CO2?
The Alarmists have now mandated that: In some Eastern Cities, horses pulling carraiges MUST HAVE DIAPERS. In Californis, horse manure--once sought for fertilizer--is declared a "hazardous material". Speculation is that it gets into the water supply and causes algae. Horse Owners are threatened with citations if their horses go while they are out on a trail.
In Ann Coulter's book, however, she describes Liberal's love affair with their feces.
I suggest teaching all farm animals to use a toilet and to flush. Beano could be added to feed.
There is quite a bit of info at the link.
What bull.
I suppose Green composting is going to produce CO2, too along with methane, since trees produce 33% of it. Tax that too?
Compost tea is a necessary to ensure healthy seedlings with no dampoff. None of that in the future?
I'm a Green, but these people are just greedy grabbing the money out of other's pockets on an silly idea wrapped up in globalbalony. ~And the self-righteous twits sill fly and drive...
The Control Freaks are at it again...
I'm helping Ron White save the earth from global warming. ;-D
yep
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