Quote:
Quote by: Pooeypants  Although Methane is a big player in the atmosphere, it's still 2nd place compared to Carbon dioxide so in short, reducing our methane emissions will not have significant impact unless we curb that of the CO2. |
Pooey, I think you are being a bit myopic in regards to CO2, and taking a more not so concerned view of methane is unfounded, and that probably has more to do with the implications it would have in demanding one do as much as possible.
Your comparison with vehicles does not hold much water, unless one is within cycling distances. Then there is a substitute. IF one is not within cycling distance, then public or private transportation with an engine is needed. With eating, the vegetarian diet is a substitute to be had at all times for making an impact on global warming and doing your most to do so -- unles you live in the arctic circle.
I find it great you are willing to cut down, but down is not the maximum of what you are able to do without diminishing your quality of life -- save for the pleasure of one's palate. But then, pleasure cannot be an excuse to ignore responsibility, for surely those who drive monster SUVs derive pleasure in their choice of vehicle.
The whole article is interesting, but here is an excerpt:
Quote:
Livestock are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions as measured in carbon dioxide equivalent, reports the FAO. This includes 9 percent of all CO2 emissions, 37 percent of methane, and 65 percent of nitrous oxide. Altogether, that's more than the emissions caused by transportation.
The latter two gases are particularly troubling – even though they represent far smaller concentrations in atmosphere than CO2, which remains the main global warming culprit. But methane has 23 times the global warming potential (GWP) of CO2 and nitrous oxide has 296 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide.
Methane could become a greater problem if the permafrost in northern latitudes thaws with increasing temperatures, releasing the gas now trapped below decaying vegetation. What's more certain is that emissions of these gases can spike as humans consume more livestock products.
|