meat and global warming

8/6/2019 Meat and Global Warming

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UN says Meat Industry isnumber one cause ofGlobal Warming, contributing18% of all Green House Gases.

13% are caused by transportations.



GLOBAL WARMINGAND

MEAT INDUSTRY



Introduction

Global warming is by large caused by green house gases

Green house effect ²

Sun sends energy in the form of sunlight that reaches earth·s

surface.

Solar radiations pass through atmosphere and some arereflected back to space.

About 50% radiations are absorbed by earth·s surface and

some are reflected back to space through the surface.

Absorbed radiations are converted to heat energy( responsible

for warm surface), causing emission of infrared radiations back

to the atmosphere.

some of the IR radiations are re-emitted by green house gas

molecules( which heat up the earth·s surface)



Major Green House Gases

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) ² the direct warming effect is highest for carbondioxide simply because its concentration and emitted quantities are muchhigher than that of any other gases.

Methane (CH4) ² methane is second most important green house gas. Onceemitted methane remains in atmosphere for approximately for 9-15 years.Methane is about 21 times more effective in trapping the heat in theatmosphere than carbon dioxide

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)- Third greenhouse gas with important direct warmingpotential, is present in the atmosphere in extremely small amounts. Howeverit is 296 times more effective than Carbon Dioxide in trapping heat andhas a very long atmospheric lifetime(114 years)



Where·s the problem ?

The Greenhouse effect is not the problem; in

fact it is the key mechanism of temperature

regulation. Without it the average temperature of

earth·s surface would not be 15 degrees Celsius but-6 degrees Celsius.

Since Industrial Revolution, the average temperature

of earth·s surface has risen by .6 deg Celsius. Recent

projections suggest that average temperature couldincrease by another 1.4 to 5.8 deg. Celsius by

2100.



Where does methane come from ?

Landfills

Natural Gas and

Petroleum system

Coal Mining

Livestock Enteric

Fermentation(buffalo,

sheep, goat andcamel)



Nitrous oxide and Livestock ?

Livestock feed production, like human food

production, often involves large applications of

nitrogen based fertilizer to agricultural soils. This in-

turn results in nitrification and denitrification in the

soil and the release of nitrous oxide to the

atmosphere.

Nitrous oxide arises from animal wastes occursduring both storage and treatment, again by the

processes of nitrification and denitrification



Past and Current concentrations of Greenhouse gases

Direct Global WarmingPotential relative to CO2

for a 100 year timehorizon. GWPs are a

simple way to compare thepotency of variousgreenhouse gases. TheGWP of gas depend notonly on capacity to absorband re-emit the radiationsbut also on how long theeffect lasts. Gas molecules

gradually dissociate orreact with otheratmospheric compounds toform new molecules withdifferent raditiveproperties.

GAS

Pre- industrial

concentrations

(1750)

Current

Concentrations

Global

Warming

Potential

Carbon

Dioxide227 ppm 382ppm 1

Methane 600 ppb 1728 ppb 23

Nitrous

Oxide

270 ² 290

ppb318 ppb 296



What is livestock ?

Livestock refers to one

or more domesticated

animals raised in an

agricultural setting to

produce commodities

such as food, fiber

and labor



Livestock and Greenhouse gases

Livestock activities emit considerable amount of these three gases:

1. In the form of Carbon dioxide through respiration

2. Methane is emitted as part of their digestive process.

3. Animal manure also emits gases such as methane, nitrous oxides,ammonia and carbon dioxide

4. Land-used for pastures or feed crops contribute to a large amount of

carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

5. Fossil fuel used during feed and animal production.

6. Fossil fuel used in production and transport of processed andrefrigerated animal products.



What can we do ?

One real solution is to cut down the average meat

consumption. To cut down the demand would cut

down the supply.

Improving grazing management.

Reducing CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation

through improved efficiency and diets.

Soil testing, followed by addition of properamendments and fertilizers.

Improved nutritional diets.



reference

Refer for the site www.meatthetruth.com

Video presentation is available on you tube with the

name ´meat the truthµ for additional information.

meat and global warming

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