Earth Equity News

Role of Agriculture in New U.N. Climate Treaty Debated. By Arthur Max, AP, May 31, 2009. "As the world struggles to reduce pollution causing climate change, attention has focused on the burning of fossil fuels in factories, power stations, and vehicles. But U.N. scientists says farming and forestry account for more than 30% of the greenhouse gases that are gradually heating the earth. Much of that pollution comes from cattle, sheep and pigs that belch or excrete methane, a heat-trapping gas more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide, the most common global warming gas... Yet it is uncertain whether cutting agricultural emissions will be part of the agreement expected to emerge at the final [U.N.] meetings [this December] in Copenhagen, Denmark. The subject is complex, emissions are difficult to measure, and the whole question is politically sensitive, touching on the distrust between the world's rich and poor countries. Scientists say it is too important to be left out."