Article Title: The Greenhouse Hamburger
Author: Nathan Fiala
Worldwide meat production (beef, chicken and pork) emits more greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane) into the atmosphere than all forms of global transportation or industrial processes. Only energy production releases more greenhouse gases than raising livestock for food. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research estimates that current levels of meat production contribute between 14 and 22 percent of the 36 billion tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases the world produces every year. Every food we consume, including fruits and vegetables, all have hidden costs. Transportation, refrigeration, fuel for farming, and methane emissions from plants and animals, all lead to a buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases. In Peru, growing half a pound of asparagus emits greenhouse gases equivalent to 1.2 ounces of CO2 as a result of applying insecticide and fertilizer, pumping water and running heavy, gas-guzzling farm equipment. To refrigerate and transport the vegetable generates another 2 ounces of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases. Beef is worse however; cows emit 2.5 and 4.7 ounces of methane for each pound of beef they produce but methane has about 23 times the global-warming potential of CO2. Not to mention that animal-raising farms produce large amounts of waste that also release greenhouse gases. Producing a pound of beef releases 14.8 pounds of carbon dioxide, a pound of pork releases 3.8 pounds of CO2, and a pound of chicken releases 1.1 pounds of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.
Wow, this article makes me not want to eat meat anymore. I sometimes think I should be a vegetarian, but like many other people who fail, meat is too good to pass up. I am shocked that production of all foods emits greenhouse gases but it makes sense they are released because of pesticide use, transportation, and refrigeration. Foods do need to be refrigerated and pesticides are important because they kill pests but transportation is not needed. Eating locally grown food would reduce the need for transport, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Other ways to reduce the carbon footprint include improving waste management and farming practices. Methane-capturing systems can use cows’ waste to generate electricity. Also, people could make wiser choices for their diets. For example, people could also eat less meat, especially beef. I think this way would greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by meat production. Becoming vegetarian is a good thing because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation to build livestock farms, and is healthier because you're eating on a lower trophic level and have less of a chance of biomagnification.
Author: Nathan Fiala
- Food, especially meat, causes more greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) to spew into the atmosphere than transportation and industry.
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that current production levels of meat contribute between 14 and 22 percent of the 36 billion tons of “CO2-equivalent” greenhouse gases the world produces every year.
- Producing half a pound of hamburger releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly 10 miles.
- Every food we consume, including fruits and vegetables, all have hidden costs. Transportation, refrigeration and fuel for farming, as well as methane emissions from plants and animals, all lead to a buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases.
- In Peru, growing half a pound of asparagus emits greenhouse gases equivalent to 1.2 ounces of CO2 as a result of applying insecticide and fertilizer, pumping water and running heavy, gas-guzzling farm equipment. To refrigerate and transport the vegetable to an American dinner table generates another 2 ounces of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.
- Beef is worse however; cows emit 2.5 and 4.7 ounces of methane for each pound of beef they produce. And because methane has about 23 times the amount of CO2, those emissions are the equivalent of releasing between 3.6 and 6.8 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere for each pound of beef produced.
- Producing a pound of beef protein requires more than 10 pounds of plant protein - with all the greenhouse gas emissions from grain farming. Not to mention that farms raising animals produce large amounts of waste that also release greenhouse gases.
- Producing a pound of beef releases 14.8 pounds of carbon dioxide, a pound of pork releases 3.8 pounds of CO2, and a pound of chicken releases 1.1 pounds of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.
- Improving waste management and farming practices would reduce the carbon footprint of beef production. Methane-capturing systems can put cows’ waste to use in generating electricity.
- People could make wiser choices for their diets - eating locally produced food would reduce the need for transport. People could also eat less meat, especially beef.
Worldwide meat production (beef, chicken and pork) emits more greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane) into the atmosphere than all forms of global transportation or industrial processes. Only energy production releases more greenhouse gases than raising livestock for food. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research estimates that current levels of meat production contribute between 14 and 22 percent of the 36 billion tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases the world produces every year. Every food we consume, including fruits and vegetables, all have hidden costs. Transportation, refrigeration, fuel for farming, and methane emissions from plants and animals, all lead to a buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gases. In Peru, growing half a pound of asparagus emits greenhouse gases equivalent to 1.2 ounces of CO2 as a result of applying insecticide and fertilizer, pumping water and running heavy, gas-guzzling farm equipment. To refrigerate and transport the vegetable generates another 2 ounces of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases. Beef is worse however; cows emit 2.5 and 4.7 ounces of methane for each pound of beef they produce but methane has about 23 times the global-warming potential of CO2. Not to mention that animal-raising farms produce large amounts of waste that also release greenhouse gases. Producing a pound of beef releases 14.8 pounds of carbon dioxide, a pound of pork releases 3.8 pounds of CO2, and a pound of chicken releases 1.1 pounds of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.
Wow, this article makes me not want to eat meat anymore. I sometimes think I should be a vegetarian, but like many other people who fail, meat is too good to pass up. I am shocked that production of all foods emits greenhouse gases but it makes sense they are released because of pesticide use, transportation, and refrigeration. Foods do need to be refrigerated and pesticides are important because they kill pests but transportation is not needed. Eating locally grown food would reduce the need for transport, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Other ways to reduce the carbon footprint include improving waste management and farming practices. Methane-capturing systems can use cows’ waste to generate electricity. Also, people could make wiser choices for their diets. For example, people could also eat less meat, especially beef. I think this way would greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by meat production. Becoming vegetarian is a good thing because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation to build livestock farms, and is healthier because you're eating on a lower trophic level and have less of a chance of biomagnification.