The Do LaB’s Greenlight

By Shena Turlington

Did you know that according to the United Nations, methane from cow farts is the “greatest threat to the climate, forests, and wildlife”? And cow burps. And sheep poo . .. and… goats. The methane produced from livestock emissions burns holes in the ozone and causes warming 20 times more than carbon dioxide. Not only that, but the fuel burned to transport the meat, produce fertilizer and grow feed produces 9% of all carbon dioxide emissions. 100 other polluting gases also come from livestock, including over two-thirds of ammonia emissions, which cause acid rain. Not to mention deforestation, polluting drinking water, introducing alien bacteria, and a number of other environmental impacts. All in all, livestock emissions produce 18% of all greenhouse gases that cause global warming. That impact is greater than car emissions and all other forms of transportation put together!

So what can we do about it, aside from boycotting the meat, dairy, and leather industries? The methane could be harnessed to generate electricity, but this would require keeping the animals in an enclosed environment. It also still wouldn’t solve the root of the problem: the unsustainable numbers of livestock being produced. In the mean time, the Aussies are in luck since kangaroo farts happen to be methane-free. Scientists are attempting to transfer the methane-preventing bacteria found in kangaroo guts to other livestock.

As for the rest of us, who knew being vegetarian might be greener than driving a hybrid?