The Cost of Cattle Emissions and Climate Change Impact
Cows are major sources of methane emissions, leading to carbon footprint issues and climate change. Scientists are studying ways to reduce these emissions, as governments consider fees on cattle farmers for cows' burps. The cost implications, from AC bills to failed crops, highlight the urgent need for action to address this environmental challenge.
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Presentation Transcript
How Much Does it Cost When Cows Burp?
What do you think? Why would anyone pay for cows burps? What about cows farts? Why are scientists interested in cows body functions? What is the connection between cows, climate change and money? What does that have to do with me?
Introduction Carbon dioxide & methane Contain carbon Greenhouse gasses Trap heat GHG come from human activity E.g. burn coal & natural gas for energy Gas for cars & trucks Producing food = GHG How much?
Method Life cycle assessment Carbon released during ALL phases of production, use & disposal Example: book Cut tree Electricity for pulp mill Produce ink Ship paper & ink to press Electricity for press Ship book to book store Recycle paper
Results 1 lb wheat 1 lb beef 30 lbs carbon 1 lb carbon 800 billion lbs carbon in 2010 in USA 130 billion lbs carbon in 2010 in USA
What is the main source of carbon? Methane from cow burps (and farts)
Discussion Climate change is not free for us. Rebuilding AC/heater bills Failed crops Governments thinking about collecting a fee to cover the cost So cattle farmers may have to pay for cows burps
Carbon fee How much is a fair fee? Hypothetical fee in 2010: $3.5 billion - $30 billion Hypothetical fee in 2010: $600 million - $5 billion Estimated between $10 and 85$ per ton of carbon Supermarket price 2% Supermarket price 40% $4 lb beef + $1.60 $2 lb flour + 4
Conclusion What can you do? Vegetarian? Odd-day carnivorous (Eat meat every other day) Eat more chicken (Chickens don t burp methane!) Why? Healthy Cheaper
Cow Burp Jeopardy What are greenhouse gases? We release these chemicals which trap the sun s heat and warm the Earth s atmosphere.
Cow Burp Jeopardy What is emissions- intensive activity? This kind of activity is responsible for releasing a lot of greenhouse gases.
Cow Burp Jeopardy What is a life cycle assessment? This way of counting carbon emissions looks at all the stages of a product s life.
Cow Burp Jeopardy (Advanced) What is Global Warming Potential? This measurement indicates how much more powerful some gases are in trapping heat and causing global worming. One molecule of methane traps 25 times more heat than 1 molecule of carbon dioxide so we say that carbon dioxide s GWP is 1 while methane s GWP is 25.
Cow Burp Jeopardy (Advanced) What is carbon dioxide equivalent per year (CO2e/yr)? This unit of measurement accounts for all the different greenhouse gasses and their global warming potentials. One ton of methane emissions/year = 25 tons of CO2e /year.
