Controversy over new global warming report

A new Worldwatch report claims 50% of all global emissions of greenhouse gases can be attributed to livestock production.


This article attempts to refute the 2006 report Livestock's Long Shadow which blamed livestock production for 18% of all anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases.



What is surprising about Worldwatch's report is its suggestion: Stop eating meat. Don't just reduce consumption, change what you eat from meat products to analogs. They essentially suggest that the most meaningful way we can reduce our global greenhouse output is to go vegetarian.



A few caveats deserve to be mentioned. The analysis has not been peer-reviewed; that is, other scientists and experts have not pored over the data and drawn similar conclusions. According to one leading expert on climate change, Tara Garnett, the data is certainly welcome, particularly the information on methane, but that the data on carbon dioxide emissions from livestock breathing may not be accurate. Further, the conclusion drawn from the methane information may be skewed due to lack of equalization across all industries (i.e. the authors did not apply their statistics equally to all methane-producing sectors).

Karl Burkart over at Mother Nature Network offers some criticisms to the report. While there is no doubt Burkart and Animal Place come from two different philosophies, there is fairness in his criticism.

Of course, the ultimate conclusion is still valid - the reduction or elimination of meat, dairy and egg products from our diet is beneficial to us all. It improves our health, reduces our impact on the environment and, obviously, reduces the suffering and exploitation of other animals.

Gut Check: The Meat of the Problem

Saving the planet one pear at a time--->

All us vegans were all "GO EZRA KLEIN" when we read "The Meat of the Problem" in Wednesday's Washington Post. I mean, it's been a thorn in our collective vegan side for years that environmental groups continue to tout turning off light bulbs as The Way to Save the Planet when a more powerful way to help the planet is to stop eating animals. Switching from an SUV to a Prius does not come close to helping the earth as much as not eating meat does. Which isn't to say you should strap yourself into a Hummer while gnawing on a hummus sandwich.

Anyways, Ezra Klein may not be leaping onto the vegan bandwagon any time soon, but we will take what we can get. Please read the article, it really is quite eloquent and well-though out (as are most of his pieces).

If you have some time, write a letter to the Washington Post. Try to be more poetic than VEGANS RULE, HERE IS PROOF! You don't have to, of course, but it would be nice.

Email: letters@washpost.com

Remember to keep letters short and include your full name, address and phone number.

You can also thank Ezra Klein for penning the article: kleine@washpost.com

Environmental Protection Agency, protecting what?

Although it's long overdue, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that six greenhouse gases *may* pose a health risk and are a serious threat to our planet. This has been something leading scientists and environmental organizations have said for years, of course, but better late than never (if there is a "late", of course).

I should point out that the only reason the EPA looked into this matter is because they were ordered to by the United States Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency. That's right, it took the highest court in the land to rule that the EPA should consider doing it's job.

The results of the EPA's required investigation are not startling - the anthropogenic (caused by humans) sources of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride pose a serious health risk to ourselves, nonhuman animals and our planet.

So, what about these gases - how does it relate to farmed animals?

Let's start with methane. Methane is produced naturally from a variety of sources, including wetlands. Natural production of methane comprises 40% of total output...the other 60% is produced by human activity. In the United States, as of 2003, the livestock sector accounted for nearly 30% of methane production (part of that is from enteric fermentation and part of it is from manure lagoons), landfills for about 24% and natural gas production for another 24%. Worldwide, the livestock sector comprises 37% of anthropogenic methane emissions. Methane is 23 times more "warming" than carbon dioxide.

Next up is nitrous oxide, which is generally produced from the oxidation of nitrogen compounds. The number one source of nitrous oxide is from "soil management", more specifically from fertilizer. Most fertilizer contains the manure of animals. According to the EPA, nearly 70% of nitrous oxide production can be traced back to soil management or application of fertilizer. Worldwide, the livestock sector is responsible for 65% of nitrous oxide production. Nitrous oxide, by the way, is 270 times more "warming" than carbon dioxide. The overwhelming majority of nitrous oxide emission can be attributed to the sheer volume of manure produced by the billions upon billions of animals farmed for their flesh, milk and eggs.

The livestock sector is responsible for about 9% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The majority of carbon dioxide produced by humans comes from the production of coal and natural gas, along with petroleum. The livestock sector makes up for it's lack of carbon dioxide production by exposing our planet to more powerful greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide.

You can read a bit about the powerful hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluorides here.

It is doubtful that we will hear from our government officials on how a vegan diet can help the planet and our health. Agribusiness has been getting away with polluting our waterways, destroying our land and poisoining our air for years. They have oppressed our rural communities without legal or monetary recourse. The workers they employ are exploited and silenced. And they have reduced sentient, feeling beings to mechanized units of production by the tens of billions. And we have let them. Legislation isn't going to fix this problem. We can, but only by changing our behavior.

How you can help:

We know that industrial agriculture is wreaking havoc - the planet, human health, wildlife and domesticated species of animals are suffering. There is nothing more powerful than choosing to be part of a sustainable future. It's easy too - eat a plant-based diet. Remove meat, dairy and eggs and focus your efforts on purchasing whole-foods from as local as possible (reduces transportation-caused negative effects) and as affordably as possible. Learn more about community supported agriculture here. Cutting out as much meat, dairy and eggs as possible will go a long way to promoting a present that will allow for an actual future.

As to the EPA findings - once they are placed in the Federal Registrar's docket, there will be a 60-day public comment period....you will have an opportunity to voice your opinion on what our government should be doing about this issue. There will also be public hearings in May.