Flatulent Cows, China and Global Warming
Cows around the world have a significant impact on global warming (Times): it's about 14% of total gas emission and methane, the one cows are concerned with, has 23 times the warming potential than CO2.
The highest per capita red-meat consumers are New Zealand, Uruguay, Australia, Argentina, and the United States. Despite high production, India ranks low in consumption because of religious prohibitions. Generally, as countries become more industrialized and people's incomes improve, per capita consumption of red-meat increases (Enc. Britannica).
This is what happens in China nowadays (People.com.cn):
This is what happens in China nowadays (People.com.cn):
Chinese average meat consumption will increase by 20 kg or more in the years to come, as the living standard improves and consumption patterns change, China Quality Daily reported Monday.
The paper, quoting Deng Fujiang, deputy director of China Meat Association (CMA), said, "This target is attainable."
At present, a rural Chinese consumes 50 grams of meat per day, and the figure for an urban citizen is less than 100 grams, the paper said.
The goal is to let the average Chinese eat 100 grams of meat, or more, every day in the near future, said Pan Yaoguo, a researcher with the State Council's Development Research Institute.
Statistics from the CMA showed that China's total meat output came to 72.5 million tons in 2004, with pork output accounting for 47 percent of the world's total.
China has become the world's biggest meat producer since 1992 and its meat market share has kept rising over the past decade.
However, China's per capita meat consumption is less than 53 kg now, compared with the 70-130 kg consumed by citizens in developed countries.
Over the past years, China's meat consumption saw a marked change, with consumers expanding from higher-income groups in large cities and developed areas to low income people in rural areas.
CMA' statistics said China now has 100 modern pig, cow and poultry slaughtering enterprises and five egg products processing companies with advanced production lines introduced from abroad.
The paper, quoting Deng Fujiang, deputy director of China Meat Association (CMA), said, "This target is attainable."
At present, a rural Chinese consumes 50 grams of meat per day, and the figure for an urban citizen is less than 100 grams, the paper said.
The goal is to let the average Chinese eat 100 grams of meat, or more, every day in the near future, said Pan Yaoguo, a researcher with the State Council's Development Research Institute.
Statistics from the CMA showed that China's total meat output came to 72.5 million tons in 2004, with pork output accounting for 47 percent of the world's total.
China has become the world's biggest meat producer since 1992 and its meat market share has kept rising over the past decade.
However, China's per capita meat consumption is less than 53 kg now, compared with the 70-130 kg consumed by citizens in developed countries.
Over the past years, China's meat consumption saw a marked change, with consumers expanding from higher-income groups in large cities and developed areas to low income people in rural areas.
CMA' statistics said China now has 100 modern pig, cow and poultry slaughtering enterprises and five egg products processing companies with advanced production lines introduced from abroad.
In sum, meat consumption is under threat. I don't want China stops eating red-meat, but more simply to make anyone more conscious about the risk of unsustainable use of resources on Earth.
It thus pushes for meat consumption in the developed countries which should help other developing countries to become more responsible about their domestic policy.
Agostino
It thus pushes for meat consumption in the developed countries which should help other developing countries to become more responsible about their domestic policy.
Agostino
(I am not a vegetarian)
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