Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture: Difference between revisions

(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)

Line 44:

Livestock activities also contribute disproportionately to land-use effects, since crops such as [[Maize|corn]] and [[alfalfa]] are cultivated to feed the animals.

In 2010, [[enteric fermentation]] accounted for 43% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from all agricultural activity in the world.<ref>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2013) [http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3107e/i3107e00.htm "FAO STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 2013 World Food and Agriculture"]. See data in Table 49.</ref> The meat from ruminants has a higher carbon equivalent footprint than other meats or vegetarian sources of protein based on a global meta-analysis of lifecycle assessment studies. Small ruminants such as sheep and goats contribute approximately 475 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to GHG emissions, which constitutes around 6.5% of world agriculture sector emissions. Methane production by animals, principally ruminants, makes up an estimated 15-20% of global production of methane.

In 2010, [[enteric fermentation]] accounted for 43% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from all agricultural activity in the world. The meat from ruminants has a higher carbon equivalent footprint than other meats or vegetarian sources of protein based on a global meta-analysis of lifecycle assessment studies. Small ruminants such as sheep and goats contribute approximately 475 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to GHG emissions, which constitutes around 6.5% of world agriculture sector emissions. Methane production by animals, principally ruminants, makes up an estimated 15-20% of global production of methane.

Worldwide, livestock production occupies 70% of all land used for agriculture or 30% of the land surface of the Earth. The global [[food system]] is responsible for one-third of the global anthropogenic [[Greenhouse gas emissions|GHG emissions]], of which meat accounts for nearly 60%.

Line 78:

=== Methane emissions ===

[[File:Methane-emissions-agriculture (OWID 0666).png|thumb|Methane emissions from agriculture, 2019. Methane (CHa) emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents]]

[[File:The Global Methane Budget 2008–2017.png|thumb|Global methane budget.]][[Methane emissions]] from livestock are the number one contributor to agricultural greenhouse gases globally. Livestock are responsible for 14.5% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. One cow alone will emit 220 pounds of methane per year. While the [[residence time]] of methane is much shorter than that of carbon dioxide, it is 28 times more capable of trapping heat.~~<ref name=":02" />~~ Not only do livestock contribute to harmful emissions, but they also require a lot of land and may [[Overgrazing|overgraze]], which leads to unhealthy soil quality and reduced species diversity. A few ways to reduce methane emissions include switching to plant-rich diets with less meat, feeding the cattle more nutritious food, [[manure management]], and [[compost]]ing.

[[File:The Global Methane Budget 2008–2017.png|thumb|Global methane budget.]][[Methane emissions]] from livestock are the number one contributor to agricultural greenhouse gases globally. Livestock are responsible for 14.5% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. One cow alone will emit 220 pounds of methane per year. While the [[residence time]] of methane is much shorter than that of carbon dioxide, it is 28 times more capable of trapping heat. Not only do livestock contribute to harmful emissions, but they also require a lot of land and may [[Overgrazing|overgraze]], which leads to unhealthy soil quality and reduced species diversity. A few ways to reduce methane emissions include switching to plant-rich diets with less meat, feeding the cattle more nutritious food, [[manure management]], and [[compost]]ing.

Traditional [[Rice|rice cultivation]] is the second biggest agricultural methane source after [[livestock]], with a near-term warming impact equivalent to the [[Climate change and aviation|carbon dioxide emissions from all aviation]]. Government involvement in agricultural policy is limited due to the high demand for agricultural products like corn, wheat, and milk. The United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) global hunger and food security initiative, the Feed the Future project, is addressing food loss and waste. By addressing food loss and waste, greenhouse gas emission mitigation is also addressed. By only focusing on dairy systems of 20 value chains in 12 countries, food loss and waste could be reduced by 4-10%. These numbers are impactful and would mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while still feeding the population.

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 Livestock activities also contribute disproportionately to land-use effects, since crops such as [[Maize|corn]] and [[alfalfa]] are cultivated to feed the animals.
-In 2010, [[enteric fermentation]] accounted for 43% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from all agricultural activity in the world.<ref>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2013) [http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3107e/i3107e00.htm "FAO STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 2013 World Food and Agriculture"].  See data in Table 49.</ref> The meat from ruminants has a higher carbon equivalent footprint than other meats or vegetarian sources of protein based on a global meta-analysis of lifecycle assessment studies. Small ruminants such as sheep and goats contribute approximately 475 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to GHG emissions, which constitutes around 6.5% of world agriculture sector emissions. Methane production by animals, principally ruminants, makes up an estimated 15-20% of global production of methane.
+In 2010, [[enteric fermentation]] accounted for 43% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from all agricultural activity in the world. The meat from ruminants has a higher carbon equivalent footprint than other meats or vegetarian sources of protein based on a global meta-analysis of lifecycle assessment studies. Small ruminants such as sheep and goats contribute approximately 475 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to GHG emissions, which constitutes around 6.5% of world agriculture sector emissions. Methane production by animals, principally ruminants, makes up an estimated 15-20% of global production of methane.
 Worldwide, livestock production occupies 70% of all land used for agriculture or 30% of the land surface of the Earth. The global [[food system]] is responsible for one-third of the global anthropogenic [[Greenhouse gas emissions|GHG emissions]], of which meat accounts for nearly 60%.
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 === Methane emissions ===
 [[File:Methane-emissions-agriculture (OWID 0666).png|thumb|Methane emissions from agriculture, 2019. Methane (CHa) emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents]]
-[[File:The Global Methane Budget 2008–2017.png|thumb|Global methane budget.]][[Methane emissions]] from livestock are the number one contributor to agricultural greenhouse gases globally. Livestock are responsible for 14.5% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. One cow alone will emit 220 pounds of methane per year. While the [[residence time]] of methane is much shorter than that of carbon dioxide, it is 28 times more capable of trapping heat.<ref name=":02" /> Not only do livestock contribute to harmful emissions, but they also require a lot of land and may [[Overgrazing|overgraze]], which leads to unhealthy soil quality and reduced species diversity. A few ways to reduce methane emissions include switching to plant-rich diets with less meat, feeding the cattle more nutritious food, [[manure management]], and [[compost]]ing.
+[[File:The Global Methane Budget 2008–2017.png|thumb|Global methane budget.]][[Methane emissions]] from livestock are the number one contributor to agricultural greenhouse gases globally. Livestock are responsible for 14.5% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. One cow alone will emit 220 pounds of methane per year. While the [[residence time]] of methane is much shorter than that of carbon dioxide, it is 28 times more capable of trapping heat. Not only do livestock contribute to harmful emissions, but they also require a lot of land and may [[Overgrazing|overgraze]], which leads to unhealthy soil quality and reduced species diversity. A few ways to reduce methane emissions include switching to plant-rich diets with less meat, feeding the cattle more nutritious food, [[manure management]], and [[compost]]ing.
 Traditional [[Rice|rice cultivation]] is the second biggest agricultural methane source after [[livestock]], with a near-term warming impact equivalent to the [[Climate change and aviation|carbon dioxide emissions from all aviation]]. Government involvement in agricultural policy is limited due to the high demand for agricultural products like corn, wheat, and milk. The United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) global hunger and food security initiative, the Feed the Future project, is addressing food loss and waste. By addressing food loss and waste, greenhouse gas emission mitigation is also addressed. By only focusing on dairy systems of 20 value chains in 12 countries, food loss and waste could be reduced by 4-10%. These numbers are impactful and would mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while still feeding the population.