Worldwatch’s latest estimate is that 51% of greenhouse gas emmissions that are dramatically increasing climate change, are the result of meat production, (with a significant part of that coming directly from the methane created by cows.)
With this level of the most potent greenhouse gasees coming from meat production, you can’t have your cake and eat it too; that is to say,it appears you can’t have your steak and forgo the tornadoes and droughts. No matter what else you do. 51% is just too damn large to just skip over. Denying the link between meat production, (not just meat raised under factory farm conditons ) and global warming, is increasingly resembling the type a denial of the science akin to that produced by Exxon. If your committed to producing or eating meat, it becomes necessary to try to deny or try to invalidate what the science is pointing towards.
On the positive side, you don’t have to take on Exxon’s lies, or politicians in order to effect this change. Furthermore, you can cut back at railing at them, and “be the change you want to see in the world”. This is change you can start doing today. You don’t need to write a letter to unresponsive congress, donate money to greenpeace, or buy a Prius that you can’t afford.
Starting today, you can eliminate a huge part of your carbon footprint just by skipping past the meat aisle. Or, maybe you should run past it. Whatever speed you choose, the faster you choose to get off the meat wagon, the faster the decrease in methane and carbon dioxide production will be.
I'll do my part
By eating more veal.
I don’t usually eat veal, but I’ll do whatever I can to help eliminate these dangerous farters as soon as possible.
Ok, great
Meanwhile here is some more good reading on the topic. People better versed than myself have written better than I do on this topic. That is true especially, of the actual scientists concerned. However the writer of this article (linked below) has done a great job as well.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/earth-to-philly/Livestock-and-climate-Whose-numbers-are-more-credible.html?c=r
you are what you eat, got milk?
Rolf, thanks for this insight to help us make healthier choices. I even feel sick in responding to this outright scoff at your kind post intended as helpful.
However, while I gain nutrients from plants on a cellular level to allow my enzymes to thrive, you Maus, can only gain minimal, if any nutrients from the inorganic, roundup induced, grass fed, dead animal that once had the protein in which to are seeking to hopefully absorb. Good luck with that.
Next time I look forward to ignoring your sardonic response, but some days I am no better than you.
Stop eating
That first article says that a substantial amount of that number is from cutting down forests for agriculture, both livestock and otherwise. The author points to meat as a main problem, but vegetables and fruits in mass production also cause humans to clear rain forests. To be truly effective, both should be reduced in our consumption, unfortunately.
Cows aren’t the problem. Neither are bananas. The bigger problem is that there are too many of us humans eating, polluting, and overusing resources.