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

[InvisibleChurch]

[Doomonyou]

You can have by Bacon Cheese Burger when you pry it from my cold dead hands!!!

[Izzy Dunne]

Livestock are responsible for about 18 percent of the global warming effect

I'm eating them as fast as I can, but dang - somebody's got to help me out here...

[JmyBryan]

First thing to do is stop eating immediately.

Save the planet!

[JRios1968]

I'm doing all I can to prevent Global Warming...where's my porterhouse?

[rhombus]

fart 'em if you got 'em

[samtheman]

Talk about picking battles they can't win.

Go for it, enviroweenies.

Outlaw burgers.

I'll get the popcorn.

[Tanniker Smith]

but .. but ... but I thought we were killing off the biosphere and all the fauna within ?!?!

[theDentist]

Should read: Source: Editorial, "Meatheads and the Planet," New York Times, December 27, 2006.

[wbill]

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.

And 82% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Livestock take up 1/3 of all available land? Please. If the author is lying, the lies should at least be plausible.

[cardinal4]

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

[Lokibob]

With thanks to Dilbert, I say:

If we all opened our refrigerators at the same time, it just might slow down global warming.

[clamper1797]

And how much carbon dioxide is generated by the planets plant life. If these enviroidiots had their way ... they would sterilize the planet to end their "global warming" myth

[ConservaTexan]

You can have by Bacon Cheese Burger when you pry it from my cold dead hands!!!

Same goes for my medium-rare rib eye!

[kingu]

Aww, man, nothing about all the particulate pollution from cooking meat over fires?

[ImAmericanFirst]

Title should have been: "Vegetarians Responsible For Global Warming"

[Cementjungle]

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

Simple. Build enough steak restaraunts so everyone has one within walking distance and they won't have to drive.

[B4Ranch]

It sounds to me as if they want to open hunting seasons 24/7/365 on elephants, hippos, gnus, elk, buffalo, reindeer, mule and whitetail deer, caribou, horses, zebra, mules, cows, sheep, goats, and any other hoofed animal on the face of this earth.

[marsh_of_mists]

Here comes PETA!

[InvisibleChurch]

Manhattan will be destroyed by polar bears surfing sheets of ice into the sides of skyscrapers. Don't believe me? Here's a picture of one of them right here.

[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.

[RightResponse]

"Slightly off topic, but by unusual event this week I acquired a substantial amount of reindeer meat. Anyone have good recipes for me?"

Add some pork, and mail it to Gitmo...

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Put Beano in the livestock feed!

[CDHart]

I believe plants give off oxygen.

Carolyn

[KarlInOhio]

One answer: Eat more veal and lamb. Don't give the critters much time to warm the globe.

[Issaquahking]

Hey! don't be putting facts out, when BS is the meat of the day!

[KarlInOhio]

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

Did the old man with the toys survive or did you get to keep those too?

[upchuck]

MEAT AND THE PLANET

As Dave Barry might say, "Great name for a rock band."

LOL!

[traditional1]

We're all DOOMED I tell ya........DOOMED!

[wbill]

...I was thinking a little bigger. Greenland and Antartica for instance. Also, most of Australia, Northern Canada, Northern Russia, and anything identified as a 'Rain Forest' or 'Desert'.

Maybe the author could make an argument for 1/3 of arable farmland going to livestock. But I think that would be a stretch, as well.

[saganite]

No recipes but that red nose will make a fine table decoration.