Eat away your footprint

By far the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas is methane, and the number one source of methane worldwide is animal agriculture. Methane is responsible for nearly as much global warming as all other non-CO2 greenhouse gases put together, being 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2. About 85% of this methane is produced in the digestive processes of livestock (i.e. farting cows). An additional 15% of animal agricultural methane emissions are released from the massive “lagoons” used to store untreated farm animal waste, and already a target of environmentalists’ for their role as the number one source of water pollution in the U.S. The conclusion is simple: arguably the best way to reduce global warming in our lifetimes is by going vegetarian, or strictly speaking, by going vegan... (See however also Cow power)