Methane is one of the main pollutants in the atmosphere, directly connected to the increase in global temperature and therefore to the climate crisis. And intensive farming is one of the main sources.
When we talk about global warming we often refer to CO2, because carbon dioxide is the main gas present in the atmosphere. Too bad he’s not the only one, actually. Methane is one of the most impactful pollutants of the Planet, and although it is less taken into consideration by the general public, it is truly a gas dangerous for our future.
What is methane?
Methane is a greenhouse gas, i.e. a hydrocarbon composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH4) and is often emitted into the atmosphere as a by-product of natural and anthropogenic processes. Once in the atmosphere it is particularly efficient in retaining heat and for this reason it contributes to the greenhouse effect. Methane it is the second greenhouse gas present in our atmosphere, first is carbon dioxide.
Compared to the latter, methane is much less permanent in the atmosphere: it degrades in the order of decades — not centuries. Nonetheless, It has a climate-altering capacity approximately 25-80 times more powerful than CO2, which is why it is very worrying on a climate level. For example, in twenty years, one ton of methane will warm the atmosphere approximately 85 times one ton of CO2.
Precisely for these reasons, the scientific community states that the reduction of global methane emissions is an essential component to counteract the effects of the climate crisis, and intervening on anthropogenic methane sources is essential to remain around 1.5°C and l the Paris Agreement.
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Where does methane come from?
Globally, methane is emitted by human activities in several ways:
- about the 20% comes from landfills and from poor waste management which, when decomposing, release CH4 and CO2 into the atmosphere.
- about the 35% of methane emissions come from fossil fuelsmore precisely from the production, extraction and transport of oil, natural gas and coal.
- agriculture — withintensive farming ahead – it is the primary source as regards methane emissions we are talking about about 40% of all the methane emitted by humans globally.
Methane and livestock
We said that agriculture is responsible for almost 40% of methane emissions in the world, most of which is related to intensive animal farming, primarily the cattle. Each single cow can release between 70 and 120 kilos of methane gas per year. Animals like cows, sheep and goats emit a lot of methane, because they are ruminants that digest their food in multi-chambered stomachs.
They are capable of digesting all types of foods inedible for humans, but the disadvantage is that they emit methane as they digest.
Another important element linked to intensive farming is sewage. Manure is also a source of methane emissions, typically coming from sewage and waste lagoons from factory farms. Because if it is true that a ruminant left free, in natural conditions and which feeds on wild herbs, can regenerate the soil with its own excrement, it is not the same for intensive farming. Due to the living conditions and feed, the sewage they produce is rich in polluting substances and furthermore, the large quantity they produce generates a problem of concentration and therefore pollution.
False solutions and underestimated calculations
Despite growing awareness of how crucial it is to do everything to reduce emissions in order to stop the climate crisis, institutions seem to ignore the contribution of intensive farming.
This is demonstrated by the Global Methan Pledge, an agreement that aims to reduce 30% of global methane emissions by 2030. It is a pity that in this crucial agreement Intensive farming is not mentioned!
And a study, released shortly after this agreement, found that the methane emissions from livestock cattle intensives may be underestimated. This miscalculation could jeopardize the achievement of the sustainable development goals and the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C.
The analysis, conducted by scholars from New York University and Johns Hopkins University and published in Environmental Research Letters, has in fact found that emissions could be from 39% to 90% higher than estimated.
We have to change
If we really want to reduce methane emissions to contain temperature growth and comply with the Paris Agreements, we must intervene precisely on intensive farming, through a drastic elimination of these structures.
Because the meat industry is investing money and research into “innovations” that allow it to continue raising the same number of animals, if not more. We talk about the proposal to use algae as a feed additive for cattle, the use of bio-digesters for manure or even the use of a special litter that cows should use. These are false solutions, among other things still in the development phase, which would be less effective than one reduction of animals raised – an immediate solution that does not require millions in scientific research.
Only in this way can we truly stop the climate crisis.
It is necessary to review our diet to protect and safeguard animals and to secure global health. Find out how to do it best!
