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Global Warming
by Dr. Tel-Oren
"Too many cows are farting and burping..." |
_Climate change has a significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades. A study found that most likely more than 1,100 counties will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming.
What can be done?
Most people know that cleaning up air pollution while investing in clean energy, green jobs and smart energy solutions will help with Global Warming. Driving smarter cars, energy efficient homes and offices, and building better communities and transportation networks will be a big part of the solution. Still, the livestock issues are often not discussed or tackled. Many do not want to know about it because it would mean that we have to change our food habits.
Agriculture is responsible for an estimated 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. A significant portion of these emissions comes from methane, which, in terms of its contribution to global warming, is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. The U.S. Food and Agriculture Organization says that agricultural methane output could increase by 60 percent by 2030.
To understand why cows produce methane, it's important to know a bit more about how they work. Cows, goats, sheep and several other animals belong to a class of animals called ruminants. Ruminants have four stomachs and digest their food in their stomachs instead of in their intestines, as humans do. Ruminants eat food, regurgitate it as cud and eat it again. The stomachs are filled with bacteria that aid in digestion, but also produce methane.
The contribution to a better world by having less animal production could be significant. It could mean less global warming, more agriculture for healthy food and less inflammatory illnesses. We recommend everyone should minimize meat intake and avoid dairy.
What can be done?
Most people know that cleaning up air pollution while investing in clean energy, green jobs and smart energy solutions will help with Global Warming. Driving smarter cars, energy efficient homes and offices, and building better communities and transportation networks will be a big part of the solution. Still, the livestock issues are often not discussed or tackled. Many do not want to know about it because it would mean that we have to change our food habits.
Agriculture is responsible for an estimated 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. A significant portion of these emissions comes from methane, which, in terms of its contribution to global warming, is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. The U.S. Food and Agriculture Organization says that agricultural methane output could increase by 60 percent by 2030.
To understand why cows produce methane, it's important to know a bit more about how they work. Cows, goats, sheep and several other animals belong to a class of animals called ruminants. Ruminants have four stomachs and digest their food in their stomachs instead of in their intestines, as humans do. Ruminants eat food, regurgitate it as cud and eat it again. The stomachs are filled with bacteria that aid in digestion, but also produce methane.
The contribution to a better world by having less animal production could be significant. It could mean less global warming, more agriculture for healthy food and less inflammatory illnesses. We recommend everyone should minimize meat intake and avoid dairy.