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CNN: Climate Change – Why Beef Is The New SUV
CNN: Climate Change – Why Beef Is The New SUV
In this timely report for World Vegetarian Day, John D. Stutter from CNN went on an incredible journey learning on where his plate of beef comes from. Many of us might not think twice about our food's carbon footprint, and certainly not beef and climate change — so what is the fuss all about?
According to the U.N Food and Agriculture Organzation FAO), 14.5% of all greenhouse gas pollution can be attributed to livestock and a huge hunk of the livestock industry's role (65%) comes from raising cattle and dairy cattle!
John only managed to finish 0.61 pounds(0.28 Kg) of his beef he was served and gave the remaining 0.66 pounds(0.3 Kg) away. And the damage done from his meal? It's equivalent to a whopping 29 kilograms of CO2-equivalent gases.
Shocking? It gets better — from the atmosphere's perspective, it's about burning enough fuel to drive an average American car 113KM. Don't see what the hype is about? A one-way trip from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands is ONLY 59.4KM.
So why is his almost 0.6 KG meal so destructive?
According to 2006 guidelines from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an average cow in North America, raised in feedlot, produces a by-product (like a burp) of methane and belches out 53 KG of this stuff per year. Chicken and pigs don't do that.
Methane is a super-potent greenhouse gas with 25 times as much global warming potential as carbon dioxide (a main climate villain). And, 43% of global greenhouse gas emissions are through cow-burps alone!
Makes you wonder, what is in that piece of meat?
The answer? Corn. Most cows are raised in feedlot and are fed with corn instead of grass. Is corn the problem? NO, it's the fertilizer. 0.36 Kg of Nitrogen fertilizer is used per bushel of corn. The killer? Nitrous Oxide — ultimate greenhouse gas and about 300 times as powerful as CO2 and takes up 36% of the emissions.
The story gets better. About 70% of this planet's agriculture land is used for livestock production, according to a 2006 report from FAO. And in total, 30% of all terrestrial land on Earth — all of it! — is used for livestock.
The FAO expects meat consumption to increase 6% by 2050, which would be disastrous for the climate. A journal published by Climate Change also reported that if the trend continues, agriculture pollution will amount to 12 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent gases by 2050.
SOLUTION?
Eat less meat, of course! Studies have shown that vegetarian and vegan diets are, in fact, the most climate friendly. Those of you who go vegan or veggie should know that the climate thanks you and you are all the Earth's secret warriors.
So, QUICK – Head over to http://KindMeal.my and dine-in on delicious meat-free meals to save our beloved Earth. They come in surprisingly yummylicious deals as well!
Source: http://cnn.it/1LMmL3s
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