Think Green Live Clean

Photo Credit: Juan Rubiano

With the Copenhagen climate change conference on the horizon, it is critical to be conscious of the ways you contribute to global greenhouse gasses. Hopefully you are well aware that the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as deforestation and various agricultural and industrial practices, are altering the composition of the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. But did you know that even your diet might be contributing to rising global temperatures?

A recent analysis by Goodland and Anhang co-authors of “Livestock and Climate Change” was examined in the latest issue of World Watch magazine, which found that livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide greenhouse gas emissions! This startling research states that the main sources of greenhouse gasses from animal agriculture stem from:   (1) Deforestation of the rainforests to grow feed for livestock. (2) Methane from manure waste (methane is 72 times more potent as a global warming gas than CO2). (3) Refrigeration and transport of meat around the world. (4) Raising, processing and slaughtering of the animals.

You’re probably (hopefully) wondering what you should do about these shocking figures. Well, the answer is simple- the best way to reduce global warming from our own lifestyle is to lessen or eliminate the consumption of animal products in our diet. In doing so, we will be reducing our carbon footprint and eliminating one of the major sources of emissions of methane, which is the greenhouse gas that is responsible for almost half of the global warming effecting our planet today. Methane is produced by a number of sources, including coal mining and landfills—but the number one source worldwide is animal agriculture. While this is a tall order for some, it is important to take note of the severity of the consequences if we don’t decrease our intake of meat.

To learn more, click here.