Factory farms are notoriously bad global environmental citizens, from the destruction of ecosystems to create large-scale animal housing to the increase in methane that comes from the tons of animal waste each farm produces.
Rajendra Pachuari, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, suggested Monday that a decrease in individual meat consumption could provide the most immediate and feasible strategy for reducing the effects of global warming. In fact, only 13 percent of global greenhouse emissions come from transportation (planes, trains and automobiles), while a whopping 18 percent of the emissions come from the planet’s livestock industry.
As the author of the piece points out, a single-minded strategy aimed at eliminating global climate problems is foolish, and the reduction of meat consumption must necessarily be accompanied by additional forms of eco-friendly activity.
Time:
Need another reason to feel guilty about feeding your children that Happy Meal—aside from the fat, the calories and that voice in your head asking why you can’t be bothered to actually cook a well-balanced meal now and then? Rajendra Pachauri would like to offer you one. The head of the U.N.‘s Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Pachauri on Monday urged people around the world to cut back on meat in order to combat climate change. “Give up meat for one day [per week] at least initially, and decrease it from there,” Pachauri told Britain’s Observer newspaper. “In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity.” So, that addiction to pork and beef isn’t just clogging your arteries; it’s flame-broiling the earth, too.
By the numbers, Pachauri is absolutely right. In a 2006 report, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) concluded that worldwide livestock farming generates 18% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions—by comparison, all the world’s cars, trains, planes and boats account for a combined 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. Much of livestock’s contribution to global warming come from deforestation, as the growing demand for meat results in trees being cut down to make space for pasture or farmland to grow animal feed. Livestock takes up a lot of space—nearly one-third of the earth’s entire landmass. In Latin America, the FAO estimates that some 70% of former forest cover has been converted for grazing. Lost forest cover heats the planet, because trees absorb CO2 while they’re alive—and when they’re burned or cut down, the greenhouse gas is released back into the atmosphere.
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Purple girl, that’s a typical argument against drug dealers, not the drug users. It is the demand that drives the industry. There should be a high tax, just like a tax on SUV, on meat consumption to lower its demand.
the vast majority of “greenhouse” emissions come from energy generation and manufacturing facilities. Even the two sources pointed here, transportation and farming, only come up to 31%. That is still minor in the grand scheme. By far the worst offender of carbon dioxide emissions are plants. I tried to get the oak tree in my front yard to pay for carbon offsets, but it threatened to fall on my house, so I backed off.
Please this Vegan propaganda must be dispelled.
It is not the meat eaters who cause Global Warming- it is the Huge Agri business who stock pile animals on small parcels of land!This practices solves many of the ‘problems’ for Big Agri Business. Only have to buy so much property, since too much exercise uses up calories which are better reserved by INactivity. Also the convenience to their 9-5 staff in feeding,monitoring(?),corraling and getting to the slaughter chute or trailers going out to slaughter. This is Animal Husbandry At its WORST!
Such conditins are not only detrimental to the animals (confinement, transmitting contagious diseases) But also to Human food supply- increase in food borne illness.
What the Environmentlaist AND the Animal Activists Should be concentrating on is Bringing Down Big Agri business!!!
This consolidation, concentrates the methane in one area- instead of making it innocuous with adequate space- put these cattle out on properly sized pastures- and the density of methane would be dissipated more readily.
Human and Animal Rights Activitist should be concentrating on the fact the Big Agri business uses a Work force, for direct care of these animals, that is inexperienced, uneducated, low paid,mistreated and often Illegal.Resulting in improper animal husbandy practices.Believe me in some Agr industries these workers are treated Worse than the livestock (Horses).Which can creat a degree of resentment by workers- adding to humane care problems.Americans have focused on other areas- so finding staff requires outside help- We must legitmize these workers and facilitate their crossing over, while benefiting not just from the work, but their income- Charge a flat tax when returning to over the border- have trasportation readily availble coming in and going back out. If you had ever heard the stories of these migrant workers- YOU KNOW they’d rather pay 2,000 then travel through the desert, with the threat of exposure, hypothermia, or Robbery or murder.Have them sign in, which farm they are working- if none help hook them up. When they want to return home they come back- pay up for the year, and Voila ‘A tax return’. And yes I know…but not all Americans file their tax returns either, and get paid under the table, don’t declare everything- so it’s mute.
To eliviate All Three problems, WE must finally Decide the Corps 20 yr longitudinal study of Big Ag vs Family Farm has not only failed, but has been shown to be detrimental, to man, beast and planet!
consider how quickly meat spoils- consider how much meat is disgarded by Grocery stores and Resturants. Consider how many animals died needlessly, becuase these chains could tell a customer “Gee I have no Lamb Shanks Today”. Also consider the number of food borne illness JUST with in the last 2 yrs caused by cross country transport and international imports- not just the variety of products , but the number of people they effect or KILLED and the Geographic dispersion.Just becuase they Don’t have Jalapenos doesn’t mean I’m going to drive 20 miles to find some- I’ll still shop at my local market- quicker & cost less gas.So I could alter my eating habits eating only MI Grown Apples when in season, instead WA or CHINA all year long!
Food Production is more than JUST a Essential Resource which is Profitable- everyones gotta buy food sometime (even Farmers), It is an Lifestyle, a Commitment, a Labor of Love. No one goes into Farming becuase it’s easy, No one goes into farming to ultimately buy a House in Malibu…This is a heart & soul Profession. We must return this Honorable and highly required Expertise to the Family Farmer.
It’s hard to see how more people can’t make the connection. I was at a U.S. Green Building Council social event yesterday evening and felt like I was the lone vegetarian. While products from sustainable farming are increasing in popularity, the vast amount of meat production is a long way from a sustainable practice.
If you can’t give it up, at least cut back and try to be aware of where it comes from.
(I have only one child, by the way—who is also a vegetarian.)
30 years ago in her book DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET Francis Moore Lappe made the point that not eating meat is the single most effective thing that an individual can do to reduce energy consumption as well as to increase the food supply for human beings. An enormous amount of energy goes into raising, slaughtering, packaging, and transporting meat for human consumption. The amount of vegetable protein it takes to raise one beef cow for slaughter can feed six children for a year.
How about the carbon footprint of seven billion humans? How about some birth control, for crissake?
And let’s stop pitying cows! If we were not meant to eat them they wouldn’t be so slow, or delicious.
Clear the ego, Voice of Tyrants. Don’t belittle my opinion by assuming it was regarding you and you alone. We’re in a war of ideology, unless you consider yourself a living avatar of the thought driving neoconservative fascism. Do you feel you’re a bodily representation of that ideology?
Confirmed vegetarians, many on religious grounds (Seven Day Adventists, in particular) have signed onto the environmental movement in droves. But the issue of environmental impact of meat eating is more nuanced than most claim.
Pollution figures they cite are only true where confinement farming is concerned. With cow-friendly grass fed, organic farming, nutrient output vs energy input is much better than mono-culture soy or grain farming.
Guantanamo Prisoner’s Case Demonstrates Unfairness of Military Commissions
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By tres, September 11, 2008 at 11:36 am Link to this comment
Purple girl, that’s a typical argument against drug dealers, not the drug users. It is the demand that drives the industry. There should be a high tax, just like a tax on SUV, on meat consumption to lower its demand.
Report thisBy voice of truth, September 11, 2008 at 10:09 am Link to this comment
the vast majority of “greenhouse” emissions come from energy generation and manufacturing facilities. Even the two sources pointed here, transportation and farming, only come up to 31%. That is still minor in the grand scheme. By far the worst offender of carbon dioxide emissions are plants. I tried to get the oak tree in my front yard to pay for carbon offsets, but it threatened to fall on my house, so I backed off.
Report thisBy Purple Girl, September 11, 2008 at 5:55 am Link to this comment
Please this Vegan propaganda must be dispelled.
Report thisIt is not the meat eaters who cause Global Warming- it is the Huge Agri business who stock pile animals on small parcels of land!This practices solves many of the ‘problems’ for Big Agri Business. Only have to buy so much property, since too much exercise uses up calories which are better reserved by INactivity. Also the convenience to their 9-5 staff in feeding,monitoring(?),corraling and getting to the slaughter chute or trailers going out to slaughter. This is Animal Husbandry At its WORST!
Such conditins are not only detrimental to the animals (confinement, transmitting contagious diseases) But also to Human food supply- increase in food borne illness.
What the Environmentlaist AND the Animal Activists Should be concentrating on is Bringing Down Big Agri business!!!
This consolidation, concentrates the methane in one area- instead of making it innocuous with adequate space- put these cattle out on properly sized pastures- and the density of methane would be dissipated more readily.
Human and Animal Rights Activitist should be concentrating on the fact the Big Agri business uses a Work force, for direct care of these animals, that is inexperienced, uneducated, low paid,mistreated and often Illegal.Resulting in improper animal husbandy practices.Believe me in some Agr industries these workers are treated Worse than the livestock (Horses).Which can creat a degree of resentment by workers- adding to humane care problems.Americans have focused on other areas- so finding staff requires outside help- We must legitmize these workers and facilitate their crossing over, while benefiting not just from the work, but their income- Charge a flat tax when returning to over the border- have trasportation readily availble coming in and going back out. If you had ever heard the stories of these migrant workers- YOU KNOW they’d rather pay 2,000 then travel through the desert, with the threat of exposure, hypothermia, or Robbery or murder.Have them sign in, which farm they are working- if none help hook them up. When they want to return home they come back- pay up for the year, and Voila ‘A tax return’. And yes I know…but not all Americans file their tax returns either, and get paid under the table, don’t declare everything- so it’s mute.
To eliviate All Three problems, WE must finally Decide the Corps 20 yr longitudinal study of Big Ag vs Family Farm has not only failed, but has been shown to be detrimental, to man, beast and planet!
consider how quickly meat spoils- consider how much meat is disgarded by Grocery stores and Resturants. Consider how many animals died needlessly, becuase these chains could tell a customer “Gee I have no Lamb Shanks Today”. Also consider the number of food borne illness JUST with in the last 2 yrs caused by cross country transport and international imports- not just the variety of products , but the number of people they effect or KILLED and the Geographic dispersion.Just becuase they Don’t have Jalapenos doesn’t mean I’m going to drive 20 miles to find some- I’ll still shop at my local market- quicker & cost less gas.So I could alter my eating habits eating only MI Grown Apples when in season, instead WA or CHINA all year long!
Food Production is more than JUST a Essential Resource which is Profitable- everyones gotta buy food sometime (even Farmers), It is an Lifestyle, a Commitment, a Labor of Love. No one goes into Farming becuase it’s easy, No one goes into farming to ultimately buy a House in Malibu…This is a heart & soul Profession. We must return this Honorable and highly required Expertise to the Family Farmer.
By decatur mama, September 10, 2008 at 7:16 pm Link to this comment
It’s hard to see how more people can’t make the connection. I was at a U.S. Green Building Council social event yesterday evening and felt like I was the lone vegetarian. While products from sustainable farming are increasing in popularity, the vast amount of meat production is a long way from a sustainable practice.
If you can’t give it up, at least cut back and try to be aware of where it comes from.
(I have only one child, by the way—who is also a vegetarian.)
Report thisBy troublesum, September 10, 2008 at 5:49 pm Link to this comment
30 years ago in her book DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET Francis Moore Lappe made the point that not eating meat is the single most effective thing that an individual can do to reduce energy consumption as well as to increase the food supply for human beings. An enormous amount of energy goes into raising, slaughtering, packaging, and transporting meat for human consumption. The amount of vegetable protein it takes to raise one beef cow for slaughter can feed six children for a year.
Report thisBy Big B, September 10, 2008 at 4:56 pm Link to this comment
How about the carbon footprint of seven billion humans? How about some birth control, for crissake?
And let’s stop pitying cows! If we were not meant to eat them they wouldn’t be so slow, or delicious.
thank you
Report thisBy voice of truth, September 10, 2008 at 2:27 pm Link to this comment
I don’t even know what you just said.
Report thisBy voice of truth, September 10, 2008 at 2:27 pm Link to this comment
I don’t even know what you just said.
Report thisBy Aegrus, September 10, 2008 at 1:27 pm Link to this comment
Clear the ego, Voice of Tyrants. Don’t belittle my opinion by assuming it was regarding you and you alone. We’re in a war of ideology, unless you consider yourself a living avatar of the thought driving neoconservative fascism. Do you feel you’re a bodily representation of that ideology?
Report thisBy voice of truth, September 10, 2008 at 12:35 pm Link to this comment
Aegrus
If we eliminated me (though I have no idea what a neoconservative is), then you would have no point in living
Report thisBy Jonas South, September 10, 2008 at 12:20 pm Link to this comment
Confirmed vegetarians, many on religious grounds (Seven Day Adventists, in particular) have signed onto the environmental movement in droves. But the issue of environmental impact of meat eating is more nuanced than most claim.
Pollution figures they cite are only true where confinement farming is concerned. With cow-friendly grass fed, organic farming, nutrient output vs energy input is much better than mono-culture soy or grain farming.
For background data on nutrient rich raw milk, grass-fed animal diets, see http://www.westonaprice.org.
Report thisBy Aegrus, September 10, 2008 at 11:43 am Link to this comment
If we removed neoconservative unreason from America, we’d be able to eliminate government waste in addition to environmental squalor.
Report thisBy voice of truth, September 10, 2008 at 11:30 am Link to this comment
how about we eliminate some of these blowhards? That should reduce the earth’s heat signature significantly.
Report this