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Eating less meat would reduce global warming
Many of us often wonder what we could do in our humble daily life in order to reduce CO2 emissions and thereby contribute a little bit in the reduction of global warming. Well, it´s not so much turning off the lights but, eating less meat, since, the livestock industry, contrary to what it may seem, not only consumes energy but, also, the animals emit methane through their belching and from their waste, a gas even more polluting than CO2.
Eliminating the consumption of hamburgers and bacon would cut by twenty billion dollars the amount needed to fight against global warming. This is the dramatic conclusion reached by a study that analyzed the economic cost of meat based diets.
The researchers involved indicate that, cutting down the consumption of beef and pork, would lower greenhouse gas emissions by a huge percentage, also reducing the land used to grow food for these animals. Methane emissions from the animal´s waste would be reduced, too.
Cattle ranching is especially costly for the environment. Apart from methane emissions, to produce a kilo of meat costs 15 kg. of grain and 30 of forage. Grain also needs fertilizers , which require a lot of energy to produce.
The study claims that, if eating habits don´t change, emissions will have to be reduced by two thirds in 2050, which will cost 40 billion dollars. If the world population, by contrast, opted for a diet low in meat -70 grams of meat, 325 grams of chicken and eggs, per week- 15 million square kilometers of farm land would be freed up. The vegetation that could grow in these areas would absorb CO2.
According to these estimates, greenhouse gas emissions would also drop by 10%, due to the reduction of livestock. These measures would cut down in half the cost of combating climate change in 2050.
The cost of CO2 emissions could be included in the price of meat in order to help consumers carry out, effectively, the reduction in meat consumption. Such measure is being proposed by the group of researchers who conducted the study.
The researchers involved indicate that, cutting down the consumption of beef and pork, would lower greenhouse gas emissions by a huge percentage, also reducing the land used to grow food for these animals. Methane emissions from the animal´s waste would be reduced, too.
Cattle ranching is especially costly for the environment. Apart from methane emissions, to produce a kilo of meat costs 15 kg. of grain and 30 of forage. Grain also needs fertilizers , which require a lot of energy to produce.
The study claims that, if eating habits don´t change, emissions will have to be reduced by two thirds in 2050, which will cost 40 billion dollars. If the world population, by contrast, opted for a diet low in meat -70 grams of meat, 325 grams of chicken and eggs, per week- 15 million square kilometers of farm land would be freed up. The vegetation that could grow in these areas would absorb CO2.
According to these estimates, greenhouse gas emissions would also drop by 10%, due to the reduction of livestock. These measures would cut down in half the cost of combating climate change in 2050.
The cost of CO2 emissions could be included in the price of meat in order to help consumers carry out, effectively, the reduction in meat consumption. Such measure is being proposed by the group of researchers who conducted the study.
