One More Reason to Become a Vegetarian?

One More Reason to Become a Vegetarian?: "One More Reason to Become a Vegetarian?

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There are a list of reasons for being a vegetarian — health, morality, ethics — but could global warming be yet another? As a matter of fact, it is. Oil, coal, and cars seem to get all the attention in environmental discourse these days, but there’s a new answer to the question, “Where’s the beef?” It turns out that our beef is busy melting ice caps and eating ozone.

According to the Scientific American, meat production itself produces up to 22% of greenhouse gases every year. And beef is the worst. It contributes more than 13 times as much as chicken to global warming, and 57 times more than potatoes…and consumption is rising rapidly.

The raising and production of livestock animals uses an amazing amount of energy. Here are some of the major effects that meat has on its way to your dinner table:

Livestock Waste Produces Greenhouse Gases

Fossil Fuel emissions may be number one, but methane is not far behind, and waste from livestock is a major contributor to methane emissions. The livestock industry on the whole accounts for 37% of human-induced methane. According to Low Impact Living, you would have to drive your car for three hours, while leaving all the lig"...

Links:
Meat or No Meat?
Scientific American