This is certainly an interesting read!
Their analysis showed that producing a kilogram of beef leads to the emission of greenhouse gases with a warming potential equivalent to 36.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide. It also releases fertilising compounds equivalent to 340 grams of sulphur dioxide and 59 grams of phosphate, and consumes 169 megajoules of energy. In other words, a kilogram of beef is responsible for the equivalent of the amount of CO2 emitted by the average European car every 250 kilometres, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for nearly 20 days.
Source: NewScientist
Man I love beef but this will certainly make me rethink my eating habits. I know virtually every industry is bad for the environment but I had no idea that so much energy was required and just how large the carbon footprint of the cattle industry was. Sigh depressing news, makes me wonder sometimes why I even bother…
While I’m not contesting that meat is bad for the environment, studies like this make me really mad. It compares the total cost of production of one thing, to the byproduct of another. If you compare the total cost of car production (steel production, fuel refining & distribution, not to mention the numerous wars linked to that fuel line) to that of meat, you’ll find that cars are still considerably worse and figures like this only help to ignore that fact.
Meat is bad mkay?