There’s a discussion in New Zealand (and other countries) about animal “emissions” and global warming. About 90% of the methane emissions are actually caused by burping (and farting) animals.

From WSJ: Silencing the lambs? Some activists are urging consumers to stop buying meat and thus slow climate change. All of which is breathing new life into the study of sheep stomachs. Researchers have tried just about everything, from changing the animals’ diets to breeding new sheep they hope will be less gassy. They’ve concocted cocktails of clover, garlic and cottonseed oil to try to curb methane. They have even tried feeding the animals chloroform, which can stymie the production of gas if it doesn’t kill the animal. But sure as grass grows, livestock keep producing methane.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123561039911777481.html

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0309/S00040.htm

What do you think about the discussion? Is it simply amusing? Or has something serious to be done about it?

Topics: global warming, climate change, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, methane