farmdoc's blog post number 91

Though the best-known greenhouse gas is CO2, an Age article 10 days ago reminds us that methane is currently Australia’s largest contributor to climate change, yet the Garnaut report mentions it only once – compared with 272 mentions of coal which via CO2 is the second-largest current contributor. The article tells us methane is 72 times more potent, per tonne, than CO2 in causing global warming, but much shorter lasting because new methane is almost gone after 20 years. Australia’s methane is produced by digestion in ruminants including 88 million sheep and 28 million cattle. Our livestock emissions alone will cause significantly more warming in the next 20 years than all of our coal-fired power stations. Methane is easy to reduce – by decreasing our national ruminant population. Eating less meat is healthier, anyway. According to an 11 July 2008 Tasmanian Country article, national sheep numbers are falling as evidenced by this year’s estimated wool clip being 4% less than last year’s actual, and almost 30% less than the peak clip 30 years ago. Why? In the eastern States pasture depletion due to droughts; and in Western Australia record global grain prices causing farmers to sow grain rather than run sheep. And what’s caused the record droughts and global grain prices? Why climate change of course. Our planet is a closed homeostatic ecosystem, folks. Rejoice.