Biological Emissions and North-South Politics
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Emissions of methane from bovine animals have been estimated elsewhere
at approximately 60 million tons per year, 15% of global methane releases.
This estimate is misleading for two reasons: it ignores the differences in
atmospheric residence time between carbon dioxide and methane, and it
overlooks the biological and chemical cycling that occurs. The result is an
overemphasis of the role of this methane as a greenhouse gas. This is
demonstrated by showing the carbon withdrawal and emission cycle for a
representation of the one billion global livestock animals. In terms of cost
effectiveness, this method shows energy efficiency and fossil fuel switching
to be more efficient policies than biological methane reduction. Finally,
implications for negotiations of climate change accords are discussed.