Farmers of the future will have to use cattle and sheep that belch less methane, crops that emit far less planet-warming nitrous oxide and become experts in reporting their greenhouse gas emissions to the government. Green Business Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases and globally that share will rise as demand for food … Continue reading
Category Archives: Environment
Don’t blame cows for climate change
Despite oft-repeated claims by sources ranging from the United Nations to music star Paul McCartney, it is simply not true that consuming less meat and dairy products will help stop climate change, says a University of California authority on farming and greenhouse gases. UC Davis Associate Professor and Air Quality Specialist Frank Mitloehner says that … Continue reading
Betting on Copenhagen
Setting: A casino in a luxury space cruiser currently in the vicinity of the star that Earthlings call “The Sun.” Characters: Four rich aliens from different planets in the galaxy; they are standing by a window, looking out at the Earth. First alien: What a beautiful planet! Don’t you like the way the clouds swirl? … Continue reading
Africa / Climate Change / Environment / Middle East / North Africa / Women
Climate change: Are women the solution?
It is often asserted that climate change will affect women the most in the developing world. That’s because most women will have to walk farther for drinking water, work harder to grow food, pull daughters out of school to help with family chores, and fuss more about family hygiene as the world – and particularly … Continue reading
Cattle / Climate Change / Environment / Livestock / USA
Climate reprieve for cattle
Beef cattle are not the climate-change bogeymen they’re made out to be, according to a new US study. University of California scientists say UN estimates that livestock generate 18 per cent of global greenhouse emissions could be six times too high. They say recent estimates by US environment and energy agencies, using more appropriate assumptions, … Continue reading
Canada / Cattle / Climate Change / East Africa / Environment / ILRI / Insurance / Kenya / Livestock / USA
Kenya to use satellites to fight climate change
Satellite-based insurance for livestock has been developed in Kenya to measure the country’s “greenness,” safeguarding herders against droughts and other effects of climate change. Slated to begin in early 2010, Kenya will be the first developing nation to set up a satellite insurance mechanism. Specialists will study satellite images measuring the greenness of vegetation in … Continue reading
Agriculture / Drought / East Africa / Environment / Livestock / Somalia / Trade
Somalia: Livestock-based economy receives major boost
Somalia’s livestock-based economy has received a major boost as its major market, Saudi Arabia lifts its 11 year ban on imported livestock from Somalia. The lift comes after many Somali farmers suffered from the severe east African droughts that dried the soil and dehydrated livestock to death. Last month, a U.S. based NGO embarked on … Continue reading
Third world food crises are caused by climate change
Globalization has proven that what happens in one area of the world invariably affects the whole planet. Right now in Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, and numerous other countries, people are experiencing severe droughts and flooding to an extent beyond anything they have ever witnessed before. Rising temperatures all over the world are causing malnourishment, starvation, and … Continue reading
Africa / Agriculture / East Africa / Environment / ILRI / Regions / Research
Climate change could create agricultural winners and losers in East Africa, new study warns
As African leaders prepare to present an ambitious proposal to industrialized countries for coping with climate change in the part of the world that is most vulnerable to its impacts, a new study points to where and how some of this money should be spent. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Agricultural Systems, the study projects … Continue reading
Environment / Kenya / Wildlife
Wildlife threatened at Nairobi park
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has implored the government to urgently consider land usage proposals intended to protect the migratory routes of animals. Senior Warden at the Nairobi National Park Michael Wanjau, is concerned that with the rapid encroachment of land in areas surrounding the park, animals will soon have no route to pass through … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 