Green Cuisine?
by Dr. Thaddeus Jacobs
Did you know that going vegetarian reduces your carbon footprint far more drastically than any other lifestyle choices? From production of feed crop fertilizers and the manufacture of veterinary medications to refrigeration and delivery of the end product, mass produced animal foods require tremendous petroleum input. Besides extensive, multi-level carbon inputs involved with animal agriculture, there is a far more important aspect of the carbon equation often overlooked.
Methane gas, 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2, is a massive byproduct of animal agriculture. It may be the greatest human-caused contributor to the greenhouse effect and threat to our global environment. Many scientists and long-term supporters of the global warming theory fear too much attention is placed on CO2 emissions. Unlike CO2, which has risen in the atmosphere a few percentage points over naturally occurring CO2 levels, humans have fortified atmospheric methane drastically, approximately 150% above naturally occurring levels.
Now, more than ever, drastic reduction of greenhouse gases is needed. Massive sub-Arctic permafrost peat bogs, which contain billions of tons of trapped methane, are for the first time thawing due to the recent global temperature rise. Some global warming specialists speculate that changes in global climate seen thus far will likely worsen, and fast, if and when the thawing progresses. Other researchers claim that we are too near the “tipping point,” that we are beyond reversing the greenhouse trend and the release of methane gas from permafrost is likely unstoppable at this point. One thing is sure, we are currently on course to continue the global warming trend.
While it is imperative that we do our best to reduce our reliance on petrochemicals and fossil fuels, economics and politics impede progress on this front. Scientists say reducing CO2 emissions may not be enough. One way, and perhaps the most effective, to fight global warming, is to adopt a plant-based (vegetarian) diet. Eating organically grown produce further reduces your carbon footprint because the use of petrochemical-based fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are avoided.
Not only is an organic, plant-based diet healthy for your body, but it’s a lifesaver for the health of the planet and future generation. It brings new meaning to eating healthy for our children’s sake.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Methane gas may be 21 times more potent than CO2, but it’s not inherently “evil”. Many farmers use the gas to create alternative energy sources. Methane produced from animal by-product can be captured and converted into electricity or natural gas. Many farmers power their own productions this way, and a farm in Vermont has even gone so far as to power it’s neighborhood!
If you aren’t ready to give up meat, look for farms with eco-energy programs/sustainable farming methods, and that feed their animals natural diets. Buying local lowers the carbon footprint even more.