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CLIMATE CHANGE, GREENHOUSE GASES, AND THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY KASIMIR BOGIELSKI PUBLIC AFFAIRS JOHN GLENN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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WHICH PRODUCT GENERATES MORE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS?

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CLIMATE CHANGE Any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time Includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects Occurs over several decades or longer

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GLOBAL WARMING The recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near earth's surface Main factor causing the changing climate patterns of today Caused mostly by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

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THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Natural process Human interaction has caused the intensifying of the greenhouse effect This intensity has in turn induced a staggering increase of global warming in the last century Surface temp. has risen by 1.4F over the past century, Projected to rise another 2-11.5F in the next

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GLOBAL EMISSIONS BY SOURCE Energy Supply (26% of 2004 global greenhouse gas emissions) Industry (19%) Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (17%) Agriculture (14%) Transportation (13%) Commercial and Residential Buildings (8%) Waste and Wastewater (3%)

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GLOBAL EMISSIONS BY SOURCE Energy Supply (26% of 2004 global greenhouse gas emissions) Industry (19%) Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (17%) Agriculture (14%) Transportation (13%) Commercial and Residential Buildings (8%) Waste and Wastewater (3%)

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THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY Accounts for about 31% of global green house gas emissions Includes emissions produced by livestock themselves and emissions produced by the clearing of forests in creation of pastures for livestock In agriculture only 8% of grain is used to grow food for direct human consumption Remaining is used to feed livestock

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THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY GREENHOUSE GASES Generates 65% of human-related nitrous oxide 296 times the global warming potential (GWP) of CO2 Most comes from manure Accounts for respectively 37% of all human-induced methane (23 times as warming as CO2) Largely produced by the digestive system of ruminants 64% of ammonia Contributes significantly to acid rain

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SOLUTIONS Adopt policies with better management practices that focus on land conservation and more efficient water and fertilizer use Reduce livestock industry deforestation (which accounts for 75% of it!) On an individual level: Low or no meat consumption in diet can contribute to the reduction of green gas emissions significantly!

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TAKEAWAY IF YOU WANT A MORE STABLE WORLD, EAT LESS MEAT!

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QUESTIONS?

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SOURCES HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/CLIMATECHANGE/BASICS/ HTTP://WWW.GLOBAL-GREENHOUSE-WARMING.COM/GRAPHS-DIAGRAMS-OF- GLOBAL-WARMING-AND-CLIMATE.HTML HTTP://WWW.GLOBAL-GREENHOUSE-WARMING.COM/GRAPHS-DIAGRAMS-OF- GLOBAL-WARMING-AND-CLIMATE.HTML HTTPS://WOODS.STANFORD.EDU/ENVIRONMENTAL-VENTURE- PROJECTS/CONSEQUENCES-INCREASED-GLOBAL-MEAT-CONSUMPTION-GLOBAL- ENVIRONMENT HTTPS://WOODS.STANFORD.EDU/ENVIRONMENTAL-VENTURE- PROJECTS/CONSEQUENCES-INCREASED-GLOBAL-MEAT-CONSUMPTION-GLOBAL- ENVIRONMENT HTTP://WWW.UN.ORG/APPS/NEWS/STORY.ASP?NEWSID=20772#.VFAJ0RAK23X HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/GREENHOUSE_EFFECT HTTP://CCAFS.CGIAR.ORG/BIGFACTS2014/#THEME=FOOD-EMISSIONS