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Professional paper

https://doi.org/10.31727/m.25.6.2

The influence of methane on the emission of greenhouse gases and the carbon footprint of animal products

Goran Kiš ; Zavod za hranidbu životinja, Agronomski fakultet, Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivica Kos ; Zavod za specijalno stočarstvo, Agronomski fakultet, Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dalibor Bedeković ; Zavod za hranidbu životinja, Agronomski fakultet, Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivan Vnučec ; Zavod za specijalno stočarstvo, Agronomski fakultet, Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zlatko Janječić ; Zavod za hranidbu životinja, Agronomski fakultet, Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska


Full text: croatian pdf 455 Kb

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Abstract

The way in which the impact of methane on climate change on Earth is perceived is significantly different for the carbon footprint of different foods. Regardless of the differences in the methodology of methane measuring and the impact of individual gases, even if we exclude methane, meat and dairy products still have the biggest footprint. This is especially true for beef and lamb, which have much higher greenhouse gas emissions than chicken, pork or vegetable alternatives. Available data and some colloquial opinions suggest that the most effective way to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the climate is human diet, that is, reduced consumption of meat in general, especially red meat and dairy products. In general, when it comes to solving climate change, the focus is mainly on "clean energy" (using renewable energy), improving energy efficiency or switching to low-carbon transport. Indeed, energy, whether in the form of electricity, heat, transport or industrial processes, accounts for the majority, 76% of greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2014). Global food systems, which include both production and post-farm processes such as processing and distribution, are also key contributors to emissions. That's a problem for which we still don't have viable technological solutions. Therefore, the generally accepted opinion is that food is responsible for approximately 26 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Keywords

methane; greenhouse gases; animal products; carbon footprint

Hrčak ID:

312420

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/312420

Publication date:

14.12.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian german spanish italian

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