A scientist in the United States has questioned the impact meat and diary production has on climate change, and accused the United Nations of exaggerating the link. In 2006, a report published by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” claimed meat production was responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Greenhouse gas emissions
Report: Climate impact of cutting back on cattle questioned
A report presented this week at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society suggests that despite claims to the contrary, eating less meat and dairy will not have much of a mitigating impact on climate change. That’s because in most developed countries, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock make up a small percentage of … Continue reading
Meat, dairy diet not tied to global warming
Forget all that indecorous talk of animal flatulence, cow burps, vegetarianism and global warming. Welcome to Cowgate. Lower consumption of meat and dairy products will not have a major impact in combating global warming — despite persistent claims that link such diets to more greenhouse gases. So says a report presented Monday before the American … Continue reading
UN body to look at meat and climate link
A 2006 report concluded meat production was responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions – more than transport. The report has been cited by people campaigning for a more vegetable-based diet, including Sir Paul McCartney. But a new analysis, presented at a major US science meeting, says the transport comparison was flawed. Sir Paul was … Continue reading
Eating less meat won’t curb climate change
Eating less meat will not reduce global warming, and reports that claim it will are distracting society from finding real ways to beat climate change, a leading air quality expert said on Monday. “We certainly can reduce our greenhouse gas production, but not by consuming less meat and milk,” Frank Mitloehner, an air quality expert … Continue reading
Global dairy agenda for action on climate change
In September 2009, the worldwide dairy industry agreed the ‘Global Dairy Agenda for Action’ on climate change – a statement of commitment by the dairy supply chain to take action to address climate change. Alongside the agenda for action, a ‘Dairy Sustainability Website‘ has been set up to share best practices, promote environmentally focused initiatives … Continue reading
Intensive versus extensive livestock systems and greenhouse gas emissions
Tara Garnett of the FCRN explores “the different ways in which one might view the contributions that livestock in intensive and extensive systems make to greenhouse gas emissions. Why do people draw different conclusions about intensive versus extensive systems? How far do these conclusions reflect differing approaches to quantifying emissions, to considering land use, and … Continue reading
Go veg to save the globe?
Can the food that we load our plates with actually affect climate? Surprisingly, the answer is “Yes”. What this means is, it’s time we did our bit to save the planet from global warming by simply going vegetarian! Did you know that rearing livestock for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the fuel guzzling … Continue reading
“Passing gas” could sink the planet!
The policy debates surrounding global warming tend to focus on fossil fuels and carbon emissions. Solutions to climate change, correspondingly, centre on developing renewable energies and increasing efficiency in the transport and building sectors. Far less attention is garnered by the warming consequences of rearing and consuming livestock. In fact, the methane released when ruminants … Continue reading
How being vegetarian does more harm to the environment than eating meat
It is a claim that could put a dent in the green credentials of vegetarians: Meat-free diets can be bad for the planet. Environmental activists and vegetarians have long taken pleasure in telling those who enjoy a steak that livestock farming is a major source of harmful greenhouse gases. But research has shown that giving … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 