MEAT AND THE PLANET:Livestock are responsible for about 18 percent of the global warming effect

ncpa.org ^ | December 28, 2006

[InvisibleChurch]

As the human population continues to multiply -- and our biological footprint on the planet becomes larger -- so do all the things associated with us, including our livestock, says the New York Times.

For example, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:

At present, there are about 1.5 billion cattle and domestic buffalo and about 1.7 billion sheep and goats in the world. Global livestock grazing and feed production use 30 percent of the land surface of the planet. Livestock -- which consume more food than they yield -- also compete directly with humans for water. But what is even more striking, and alarming, are their effects on the environment:

Livestock are responsible for about 18 percent of the global warming effect, more than transportation's contribution. The culprits are methane -- the natural result of bovine digestion -- and the nitrogen emitted by manure. Deforestation adds to the effect; the drive to expand grazing land destroys more biologically sensitive terrain, rain forests especially, than anything else. There are no easy trade-offs when it comes to global warming -- such as cutting back on cattle to make room for cars, says the Times. The human passion for meat is certainly not about to end anytime soon. Our health and the health of the planet depend on pushing livestock production in more sustainable directions.

Source: Editorial, "Meat and the Planet," New York Times, December 27, 2006.

For text:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/opinion/27wed4.html

For full report:

http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.pdf

For more on Environment Issues:

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_Category=31

[sgtbono2002]

There is but one answer. Soylent green.

[wastedyears]

What about the human contribution to methane, I wonder.

[Gaffer]

W.WW..WWWell......maybe we should kill them and stop this insanity! Wait...er...uhh.....we already do...

I know!...we should make it a criminal offense to fart...

[JJR RNCH]

[InvisibleChurch]

There is but one answer. Soylent green.

Now would the French Fries be made of real Frenchpersons?

[SF Republican]

maybe we have some entomologist out there, I understand bugs are responsible for the most

[RightResponse]

"What about the human contribution to methane, I wonder."

Damn.... busted! O.K. I admit, some of that was me....

[wastedyears]

LOL!

[wastedyears]

It's people!

[NGC 6822]

Something doesn't seem right here. If the cattle herds today are producing too much methane; what were the great buffalo herds and their buffalo patties doing some centuries ago? In other words, what is the domestic animal population of today, compared to the wild animal population of yesteryear?

[JustDoItAlways]

This is now a DEAD story.

Methane levels in the atmosphere have stabilized and might be falling now. The cattle herds are safe again.

http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov/aggi/aggi-web-fig2.png

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-11/uoc--loi112006.php

[darkwing104]

I wonder what percentage of Global warming is being generated buy these junk science blow-hards...80%?

I know Al Gore is good for at least 10%

[mmmRamen]

a problem with livestock farting? i think i know a man who can help us!

[RightResponse]

You're right! And pass the beans, please....

[Diana in Wisconsin]

This thread is useless without useless charts. ;)

[Red Badger]

They want us all to become VEGANS!.............I KNEW THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY!!!!.......

[RightResponse]

"They want us all to become VEGANS!.............I KNEW THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY!!!!......."

Vegans smell funny without farting...

[Shermy]

Slightly off topic, but by unusual event this week I acquired a substantial amount of reindeer meat.

Anyone have good recipes for me?

[Thrownatbirth]

Wait a minute, I thought my SUV was going to cause Manhattan to be drowned when the polar ice caps melted! algore said so!

algore wants you to kill as many cattle as you can with your SUV until it's totaled and inoperable.

Then you will be crowned "King of the Hippies" for a day.

[WideGlide]

Global livestock grazing and feed production use 30 percent of the land surface of the planet.

This author obviously has not sat in a window seat when traversing flyover country, else he couldn't spout this crap with a straight face. Look down idiot! There isn't any corn growing on the Rocky Mountains or in the Southwest desert. Utah's kind of barren too.