Cow Farts Could Contribute More to Global Warming than Cars

[DonC]

"Do some math, the authors say, and you find that livestock is responsible for 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas problem." (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/story?id=2723201)


"A scientific report published in California last week claimed that dairy cows in the area were producing almost 20 pounds (in weight, that's almost 10 kg) of gas every year, each. That's a huge, huge amount.

If that figure is accurate, it could mean that cow farts were causing more global warming than pollution from cars in that region, as millions of cows live there." (http://www.show.me.uk/site/news/STO873.html)


So... electric cows?

[Paul McEnery]

"Do some math, the authors say, and you find that livestock is responsible for 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas problem." (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/story?id=2723201)


"A scientific report published in California last week claimed that dairy cows in the area were producing almost 20 pounds (in weight, that's almost 10 kg) of gas every year, each. That's a huge, huge amount.

If that figure is accurate, it could mean that cow farts were causing more global warming than pollution from cars in that region, as millions of cows live there." (http://www.show.me.uk/site/news/STO873.html)


So... electric cows?

Well, the first thing we could do is stop cutting down the rainforests to create beef farms.

Seems to me people have been making noise about that for rather a long time, though. Could it possibly be that bovine methane isn't a new story at all?

However, there is something new to report. Seems that kangaroos don't fart. Go figure. Got enough bounce in their stride, I guess. So scientists have been figuring out what the enzyme is in their bellies that helps with their digestion. And they're figuring out how to put that inside of cows, and I'd think sheep, and after that, frat boys.

So: well-defined problem, several answers.

Now, cars. And indeed energy production in general. Any chance we can get some carbon neutrality there, please?

[Michael P]

Well, the first thing we could do is stop cutting down the rainforests to create beef farms.

Seems to me people have been making noise about that for rather a long time, though. Could it possibly be that bovine methane isn't a new story at all?

However, there is something new to report. Seems that kangaroos don't fart. Go figure. Got enough bounce in their stride, I guess. So scientists have been figuring out what the enzyme is in their bellies that helps with their digestion. And they're figuring out how to put that inside of cows, and I'd think sheep, and after that, frat boys.

So: well-defined problem, several answers.

Now, cars. And indeed energy production in general. Any chance we can get some carbon neutrality there, please?

Tangent to the topic, but the new issue of Scientific American has a proposal for a pretty bold solar power initiative that could provide 69% of the US's electricity need by 2050.

[Paul McEnery]

Tangent to the topic, but the new issue of Scientific American has a proposal for a pretty bold solar power initiative that could provide 69% of the US's electricity need by 2050.

Damn, they can move a bit faster than that, can't they?

What they got? Photovoltaic cells all over Nevada?

[DonC]

Tangent to the topic, but the new issue of Scientific American has a proposal for a pretty bold solar power initiative that could provide 69% of the US's electricity need by 2050.


Does it mention the cost?

[Tadhg Adams]

Does it mention the cost?

If they did, hopefully they'd balance it against the costs we're looking at with conventional energy production.

[Paul McEnery]

If they did, hopefully they'd balance it against the costs we're looking at with conventional energy production.

Probably less than building enough spaceships to carry the entire population to the next habitable planet.

[Tadhg Adams]

Probably less than building enough spaceships to carry the entire population to the next habitable planet.

By then, we'd be able to fit the remaining population on a dingy, so it's okay.

[DonC]

Considering all the flooding, droughts, blizzards, tornados, hurricanes, lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) we're going through is all based on an increase of 1 degree we should probably be working more on those starships anyway.

[Paul McEnery]

By then, we'd be able to fit the remaining population on a dingy, so it's okay.

Well shit, I know how to pilot a dinghy, so we're all in the clear after all!

[Charles RB]

However, there is something new to report. Seems that kangaroos don't fart. Go figure. Got enough bounce in their stride, I guess. So scientists have been figuring out what the enzyme is in their bellies that helps with their digestion. And they're figuring out how to put that inside of cows

Couldn't we just start eating kangaroos?

[Tadhg Adams]

Couldn't we just start eating kangaroos?

Can we milk them?

[K'Nort]

Can we milk them?

That gets you too close to the gloves.

[Paul McEnery]

Can we milk them?

We can use them for creches!

[Winslow]

If they did, hopefully they'd balance it against the costs we're looking at with conventional energy production.

or wars in the Middle East . . .

[Jeff Brady]

That gets you too close to the gloves.

The ref will call a time out, I'd hope.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Does it mention the cost?

Who cares?

It will not only save lives, but improve the quality of lives.

Money is meaningless when held up against those too.

Hell, it's meaningless anyway.

Seriously, is that really still your only objection to cutting down on pollution?
The cost?
Lame.

[Paradox]

I thought this blithering was debunked back when Reagan said it. What next, reviving the "trees are polluters because they give off carbon dioxide" nonsense again?

[MarvelKnight]

It is simple, eat more beef. The more tri-tip and steaks we consume, the less amount of time a cow would be around to release their methane. That or find a way to store and process their farts to use as a source of gas so I can cook a roast in the oven.

[Paradox]

Anyone tested the amount of methane produced by PEOPLE? We may not be as big or as ruminant as cows, but we outnumber them by quite a bit.

[Drew Van T.]

Anyone tested the amount of methane produced by PEOPLE? We may not be as big or as ruminant as cows, but we outnumber them by quite a bit.

Sometimes the difference is not great. I don't know about cows, but this country has 10 million people living alongside 6.7 million pigs (8 million pigs in the 90's, but then the plague struck).