“ Most discussions of the causes of global warming focus on carbon dioxide, CO2, from burning coal, gas, and oil – and indeed, fossil fuels, are the biggest culprit. Surprisingly, the number two contributor is methane from cattle, sheep, and other livestock.The digestive systems of ruminants and their manure both generate methane, CH4. The volume of methane they produce is much smaller than the volume of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, but methane – molecule for molecule — has over twenty times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Hence, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) livestock generate 18 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalents — more than the entire transport sector, automobiles, trains, ships, and planes.”
Steve Taylor ● 1631d