Damaging the Atmosphere

Over 30% of the greenhouse emissions produced in Australia can be attributed to the meat industry (Foran, B. Manfred, L. Dey, C. 2005). Methane produced by animals is a substantial contributor to climate change as Methane holds far more global warming danger potential then carbon dioxide. In fact over the next 20 years methane has a warming potential of at least 72 times that of carbon dioxide (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007). In 2006 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released a report called Livestock Long Shadow. This report states that animal industries are one of the “most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global”. (Stenfield et al, H. 2006 p.2). The report further highlights that “the meat industry manufactures more greenhouse gases than all the SUV’s, cars, trucks, planes, and ships combined in the world.” (Stenfield et al, H. 2006, p5). “Eating 1 pound (450 grams) of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving an SUV 40 miles”. (PETA 2008, para4) 

Animal agriculture is believed to be the leading source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which are main contributors for Global warming. Methane is 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere and Nitrous Oxide is a staggering 300 times more potent as a global warming gas then carbon dioxide. (PETA 2008, para8)

In 2008 the head speaker at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, pleaded with the world: 

‘Please eat less meat – meat is a very carbon intensive commodity.’

(BBC News, 2008)

Reference list

1. Foran, B. Manfred, L. Dey, C. 2005, Balancing Act: A triple bottom line analysis of the 135sectors of the Australian economy, CSIRO, Australia
2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, working group 1, 2007, The Physical Basis of Climate Change, AR4 Final Report
3. Steinfeld et al, H. 2006, Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. 
4. PETA. 2008, Meat and the Environment, viewed 1 September 2010, <http://www.goveg.com/environment.asp>.
5. PETA. 2008, Fight Climate Change with Diet Change, viewed 1 September 2010, <http://www.goveg.com/environment-globalwarming.asp>.
6. BBC News, 2008, Shun meats, says UN climate chief, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7600005.stm>.