Is vegetarianism the answer to global warming?

Question

An answer, maybe. Mostly though, this is food for thought and I'd like your thoughts on this.

Nitrogen fertilization of soil and animal waste were the largest contributors of nitrous oxide in 2005. This substance is the main regulator of stratospheric ozone and one of six gases addressed by the Kyoto Protocol. Although nitrous oxide made up only 5% of the total US greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, it has nearly 300 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over 100 years.

Oops! Forgot to include the source or "inspiration" for the question.

http://climatechange.ucdavis.edu/terms.html

Answer 1

It may not be the answer but it would definitely help reduce carbon emmissions. Many people do not like to think about the issue of eating meat. It is uncomfortable, but eating meat is very environmentally destructive, watch the youtube link below which takes it's facts from reliable sources.
Bear with it, the stats are very interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWWNLvgU4MI

Next people argue that it is only the method of production that is not environmentally friendly and responsible for the Carbon Emmissions. True, intensive beef and dairy farming is a major problem. However, environmentally friendly meat production is only really possible in totally integrated free range systems only then on backyard/homestead/small holding basis, after that the same environmental problems occur, although, perhaps, on a smaller scale. We can not produce the quantities of meat/dairy products that is demanded in an environmentally friendly way. The only answer is to eliminate or drastically cut down on consumption.

'Not eating meat is a far more effective way of dealing with environmental concerns than others including emissions.
If you take all factors into account (methane emissions, land use change, etc.) livestock account for about 18% of anthropogenic (human caused) greenhouse gas emissions. 18% is still a large number, almost twice as much as cars are responsible for worldwide' Quoted from Dana1981

For a fuller discussion see two following links:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkrpFY07cYlN4lwS07hKFgXty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070905112410AAY1IqC
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=An9utGUjDUqDHOorAbGsaGnty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070904123859AAhh6Iw

If everybody just cut down on meat consumption there would be a tremendous positive effect, you do not have to be Vegan/Vegetarian to reduce the demand for meat, just be selective on the types of meats and eat much less of it.

Answer 2

There is no one single answer to global warming, but reducing meat consumption would definitely be a smart thing to do. Considering that livestock account for 18% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, reducing beef consumption in particular is a big step in the right direction.

Nitrous oxide isn't really a big deal - its high global warming potential is included in that 5% figure, which is CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer 3

well, it can help but if you REALLY want 2 make a diffrence, then recycle and dont litter or anything like that! If u c some1 litter, tell them 2 stop and pick it up. Also if you c trach on the ground, and no1 around, just pick it up and recycle it. If its somthing u cant recycle, then try 2 keep it, make it into art or give it 2 some1 who can.

Answer 4

Actually eating meat is the best way to reduce global warming. Just make the meat human!

Answer 5

yers and no "if global warming is man made" then sort of but think sbout it not evferyone likes there veggies (i like all gfood p[ersonall and at a trim 230lbs, mostly muscle and around 6"3) there are alot of differences in culture as well as food, so i mean yeah kinda but not really becuase its a business.

Answer 6

A CHANGE OF DIET

there are many forms of protein apart from cows,pigs and sheep.
I have met Vegan and Vegetarian communities in South Africa ,and they all looked sickly compared to the rest of the crowd .
we need some animal protein as well.
but we can get that from snails ,insects grubs .

we need a change from MacDonnalds that is for sure and the steak houses ,Serpents are delicious and so is crocodile tail if we breed them.

you can raise deer and other animals in Nature ,but under management,under the trees ,with camps (corals)with out harming Nature as such


In Europe we eat a small piece of meat and many vegetables ,And we don`t eat meat everyday maybe 3 times a week .

other days we eat maybe fish,or pancakes ,or a soup day ,or pizza.

People must stop eating so MUCH meat just once in a while and at different ratios ,more vegetables .with a bit of meat thrown in for the flavor ,not a plate piled full of steaks sausages ,chops as they do on the traditional South African Braai`s,the same as the American Bar B ques

In Mexico dinner consists of a lot of meat eaten with tortillas and in the better places a bit of vegetable for decoration .

You do not need to stop eating meat ,just stop eating cows ,they are very destructive .

They are not natural animals but are an invention of man.
.
Their feet and weight compact the ground and raise the salt to the surface ,
.
They change the natural pampas grasses because of their limited preferences

And they consume a lot of water ,

If not carefully managed ,they over graze and kill the grass by eating it down to the roots.

They are also expensive to raise because of disease and parasites(medicines and tick baths),as well as constant vigilance ,(extra labor)
On top of all that forests are cut down to make way for the grazing land
,
Cattle means eliminating Nature and exchanging it for pasture

Mexico is being destroyed by tortillas and beef ,
their principal food (they hardly eat vegetables)

And now we are told over and over again that they contribute to Global Warming Although how this is determined beats me ,maybe they got fart meters

So bad cows ,but really bad people not so much the ones who raise them ,they merely respond to the market,but the ones who insist on eating them ,and those promoting the product.
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If only we could be persuaded to change our diets ,maybe make it a new fashion to eat wild life ,but managed and bred.

Wild boar,Rabbits ,Deer(many varieties), Pheasants ,Buffalo, Partridge ,Iguanas,Ducks ,Crocodile tail(delicious)vipers (double delicious)the list is endless,,can all be raised and produced with out harming the Environment under the trees using Natural Flora or Fauna with some extra food and salt licks thrown in. ,

And so turning forests into meat raising and tourist operations(controlled hunting and photography).culling the males ,

Ending up with sustainable situations with multiple benefits ,both economic and Environmental ,the meat ,the hunting ,the Eco tourism ,and the Environment as a whole.
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WASTED OPPERTUNITY

The best example ever ,of sustainable grazing or land use for animals , which offers the maximum benefits, has never been employed ,
And that was the African veld or prairies ,

These places were jam packed with many hundreds of species of animals and grasses ,an immense treasure of meat ,and the food needed to sustain the production included in the landscape, with a quality and disease control build in ,(in the form of predators ).

All we needed to do ,was to protect it and cull the males for the market.

Man in his wisdom killed the animals ,changed the flora ,added cows and destroyed the place within a 100 years
People are so clever .

This is what happened in South Africa ,Many places that once were full of wild animals are now deserted(abandoned) ranches because of desertification due to over grazing and over use of subterranean water supplies.

So when we talk about sustainability , Nature is still the master

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NOTE
The hooves of deer are pointed ,they punch holes in the ground (which is one method of reclaiming deserts ,punching holes in the ground)this forms a micro climate where one seed can sustain it self into germination by the one drop of condensation that is created by the hole,

Answer 7

No. If we aren't killing all these animals to eat them, the population of critters will soon overpopulate the earth causing more waste then before!

We should be eating more meat to reduce the surplus population of animals.

Answer 8

Hmm maybe we should just kill all the animals then, no?

Answer 9

no, just the answer to obesity

Answer 10

No because you will fart more