Naturalpath

Which causes more greenhouse gas emissions, raising cattle or driving cars?

Surprise - it's the cows. Yes, it's true that our cow-centric American diet contributes significantly to global warming. And cutting even some meat from our daily diets could have a greater effect than buying that eco-friendly car you've been oogling.

According to a recent report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent – 18 percent – than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.

Meat production not only consumes a huge swath of agricultural land, but the by-product of animal raising - nitrous oxide and methane gases -- are no laughing matter as they contribute much more to the greenhouse effect than CO2.

This conclusion was supported by impressive data in a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report issued last year: Livestock’s Long Shadow.

In more simplified terms, if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan — a Camry, say — to the ultra-efficient Prius. That's what Gidon Eshel, a geophysicist at the Bard Center, and Pamela A. Martin, an assistant professor of geophysics at the University of Chicago calculated recently. (Source: See NY Times Article, Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler.)

Not only does a plant-based diet lead to enormous energy savings, but it's a heathier diet as well. The World Cancer Research Fund recently said eating red meat even in small quantities can increase the risk of several cancers.

But what about the protein you ask? Well, an acre of grain yields five times as much protein as an acre used for meat production. And many nutrition experts think Americans are over-consuming protein -- now almost 200 pounds of meat, poultry and fish per capita per year. That's an increase of 50 pounds per person from 50 years ago. On average, Americans each consume about 110 grams of protein a day, about twice the federal government’s recommended allowance.

Changing this lifestyle habit is going to be a tough one. But if we are serious about global climate change this issue needs to be addressed head-on and not only by vegetarian and animal rights advocates such as The Vegetarian Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Sources and Links:

Livestock's Long Shadow: Dowload Full Report Here

Ode Magazine Article: Meat is Methane

Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler, NY Times

vegsoc.org/environment

soilassociation.org

World Cancer Research Fund Cancer Prevention Recommendations