Article: The Greenhouse Hamburger
Author: Nathan Fiala
In a report released in 2006 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), meat spews more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere than transportation or industries do. This is obviously not good, because greenhouse gases trap solar energy, thereby heating the Earth's surface, resulting in global climate change. The FAO report also found that current production levels of meat contribute between 14-22% of the 36 billion tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases the world produces every year. That percentage is so high because of everything it takes to raise, package, and ship the meat to people. Everything we eat, even fruits and vegetables, have a hidden environmental cost: the cost it takes for transportation, refrigeration, fuel for farming, and methane emissions from plants and animals; all of which lead to a buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Along with some of his co-workers, Daniel
J. Morgan of the University of Washington prepared a report. They found that growing just half a pound of asparagus in Peru is equivalent to 1.2 ounces of CO2, as a result of applying insecticide and fertilizer, pumping water and running heavy, gas-guzzling farm equipment. To refrigerate and transport the vegetable to an American dinner table generates another two ounces of CO2- equivalent greenhouse gases. The total CO2 equivalent of 3.2 ounces for a HALF pound of asparagus. Meat is even worse. Cows emit 2.5-4.7 ounces of methane for each pound of beef they produce, methane has 23 times the global-warming potential of CO2; not to mention that all the plants each cow requires to be raised. Producing a pound of beef protein requires more than 10 pounds of plant proteins.
This article makes me want to become a vegetarian, but meat is very good, and vegetables still emit a lot of greenhouses gases. The best way to effectively reduce greenhouse gases emissions would be to eat locally produced food and eat less meat. That would reduce the need for transportation, reducing the emissions. If everyone cut down on one meat meal a week, overall, we could be saving a lot of greenhouses gases from being emitted into the atmosphere. Another way to help solve this problem would be to improve waste management and farming practices to reduce the carbon footprint of beef production. If we're going to raise cows, we can at least use them to our advantage. Methane-capturing systems could use cows' waste to generate electricity. It might be expensive, but it'd be so worth it in the long run. A clean, sustainable planet is priceless. We need to work towards one if we want to live on it for years to come.
Author: Nathan Fiala
- According to a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), meat spews more greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) into the atmosphere than transportation or industry
- Greenhouse gases trap solar energy, thereby warming the earth’s surface
- A patty of meat the size of two decks of cards releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly 10 miles
- Every food we consume, even fruits and vegetables, incurs hidden environmental costs: transportation, refrigeration and fuel for farming, as well as methane emissions from plants and animals
- All lead to a buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases
- Growing half a pound of asparagus in Peru is equivalent to 1.2 ounces of CO2, as a result of applying insecticide and fertilizer, pumping water and running heavy, gas-guzzling farm equipment
- To refrigerate and transport the vegetable to an American dinner table generates another two ounces of CO2- equivalent greenhouse gases, for a total CO2 equivalent of 3.2 ounces
- Cows emit 2.5-4.7 ounces of methane for each pound of beef they produce
- Methane has 23 times the global-warming potential of CO2
- Raising animals requires a large amount of feed per unit of body weight
- Producing a pound of beef protein requires more than 10 pounds of plant proteins
- Improving waste management and farming practices would reduce the carbon footprint of beef production
- Methane-capturing systems use cows' waste to generate electricity
- Eat locally produced food and less meat to reduce the need for transport
In a report released in 2006 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), meat spews more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere than transportation or industries do. This is obviously not good, because greenhouse gases trap solar energy, thereby heating the Earth's surface, resulting in global climate change. The FAO report also found that current production levels of meat contribute between 14-22% of the 36 billion tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases the world produces every year. That percentage is so high because of everything it takes to raise, package, and ship the meat to people. Everything we eat, even fruits and vegetables, have a hidden environmental cost: the cost it takes for transportation, refrigeration, fuel for farming, and methane emissions from plants and animals; all of which lead to a buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Along with some of his co-workers, Daniel
J. Morgan of the University of Washington prepared a report. They found that growing just half a pound of asparagus in Peru is equivalent to 1.2 ounces of CO2, as a result of applying insecticide and fertilizer, pumping water and running heavy, gas-guzzling farm equipment. To refrigerate and transport the vegetable to an American dinner table generates another two ounces of CO2- equivalent greenhouse gases. The total CO2 equivalent of 3.2 ounces for a HALF pound of asparagus. Meat is even worse. Cows emit 2.5-4.7 ounces of methane for each pound of beef they produce, methane has 23 times the global-warming potential of CO2; not to mention that all the plants each cow requires to be raised. Producing a pound of beef protein requires more than 10 pounds of plant proteins.
This article makes me want to become a vegetarian, but meat is very good, and vegetables still emit a lot of greenhouses gases. The best way to effectively reduce greenhouse gases emissions would be to eat locally produced food and eat less meat. That would reduce the need for transportation, reducing the emissions. If everyone cut down on one meat meal a week, overall, we could be saving a lot of greenhouses gases from being emitted into the atmosphere. Another way to help solve this problem would be to improve waste management and farming practices to reduce the carbon footprint of beef production. If we're going to raise cows, we can at least use them to our advantage. Methane-capturing systems could use cows' waste to generate electricity. It might be expensive, but it'd be so worth it in the long run. A clean, sustainable planet is priceless. We need to work towards one if we want to live on it for years to come.