{"id":2589,"date":"2015-01-07T22:52:51","date_gmt":"2015-01-07T22:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/astraea.net\/blog\/?p=2589"},"modified":"2015-01-18T11:37:16","modified_gmt":"2015-01-18T11:37:16","slug":"the-facts-about-sustainability-the-environment-and-your-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astraea.net\/blog\/the-facts-about-sustainability-the-environment-and-your-future\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Facts” about sustainability, the environment and your future."},"content":{"rendered":"

Below are the facts stated in the film Cowspiracy<\/a> and their references.\u00a0 Which ever side you’re on it’s good to know them.\u00a0\u00a0 For example, one takeaway from the ideas presented is that we can resolve environmental problems, reform economic systems and still keep our cars, if we change our diet.\u00a0 If you take that with a pinch of salt (ha ha) it actually sounds quite interesting.\u00a0 Anyway that’s a conversation for another day.\u00a0 Here are the facts:<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than all transportation combined.\u00a0[i]<\/h2>\n

Fao.org. Spotlight: Livestock impacts on the environment.<\/em><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/ag\/magazine\/0612sp1.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Transportation is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions.<\/h2>\n

Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector primarily involve fossil fuels burned for road, rail, air, and marine transportation.<\/p>\n

Environmental Protection Agency. \u201cGlobal Emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climatechange\/ghgemissions\/global.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Livestock and their byproducts\u00a0account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.<\/h2>\n

Goodland, R Anhang, J. \u201cLivestock and Climate Change: What if the key actors in climate change were pigs, chickens and cows?\u201d<\/p>\n

WorldWatch, November\/December 2009. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, DC, USA. Pp. 10\u201319.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.worldwatch.org\/node\/6294<\/a><\/p>\n

Methane is 25-100 times more destructive than CO2.<\/h2>\n

\u201cImproved Attribution of Climate Forcing to Emissions.\u201d Science Magazine.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/content\/326\/5953\/716.figures-only<\/a><\/p>\n

Methane has a global warming power 86 times that of CO2.<\/h2>\n

NASA. \u201cMethane: Its Role as a Greenhouse Gas.\u201d Jet Propulsion Laboratory.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/education\/pdfs\/podest_ghg.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Livestock is responsible for 65% of all emissions of nitrous oxide \u2013 a greenhouse gas 296x more destructive than carbon dioxide and which stays in the atmosphere for 150 years.<\/h2>\n

\u201cLivestock\u2019s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options.\u201d Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/docrep\/010\/a0701e\/a0701e00.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) water use ranges from 70-140 billion gallons annually.<\/h2>\n

\u201cDraft Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources.\u201d EPA Office of Research and Development. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2011.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www2.epa.gov\/sites\/production\/files\/documents\/HFStudyPlanDraft_SAB_020711.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Animal agriculture use ranges from 34-76 trillion gallons of water annually.\u00a0[ii]<\/h2>\n

Pimentel, David, et al. \u201cWater Resources: Agricultural And Environmental Issues.\u201d\u00a0BioScience\u00a0<\/em>54, no. 10 (2004): 909-18.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/bioscience.oxfordjournals.org\/content\/54\/10\/909.full<\/a><\/p>\n

Barber, N.L., \u201cSummary of estimated water use in the United States in 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009\u20133098.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/pubs.usgs.gov\/fs\/2009\/3098\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Agriculture is responsible for 80-90% of US water consumption.<\/h2>\n

\u201cUSDA ERS \u2013 Irrigation & Water Use.\u201d United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. 2013.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/topics\/farm-practices-management\/irrigation-water-use\/background.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

Growing feed crops for livestock consumes\u00a056% of water in the US.<\/h2>\n

Jacobson, Michael F. \u201cMore and Cleaner Water.\u201d In\u00a0Six Arguments for a Greener Diet: How a More Plant-based Diet Could save Your Health and the Environment.
\nWashington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2006.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.cspinet.org\/EatingGreen\/pdf\/arguments4.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

One hamburger requires 660 gallons of water to produce \u2013 the equivalent of 2 months\u2019 worth of showers.\u00a0[iii]<\/h2>\n

Catanese, Christina. \u201cVirtual Water, Real Impacts.\u201d Greenversations: Official Blog of the U.S. EPA. 2012.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/blog.epa.gov\/healthywaters\/2012\/03\/virtual-water-real-impacts-world-water-day-2012\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201c50 Ways to Save Your River.\u201d Friends of the River.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.friendsoftheriver.org\/site\/PageServer?pagename=50ways<\/a><\/p>\n

2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef.<\/h2>\n

Robbins, John. \u201c2,500 Gallons, All Wet?\u201d EarthSave<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.earthsave.org\/environment\/water.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Meateater\u2019s Guide to Climate Change & Health.\u201d Environmental Working Group.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ewg.org\/meateatersguide\/interactive-graphic\/water\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWater Footprint Assessment.\u201d University of Twente, the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.waterfootprint.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A.\u00a0Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won\u2019t Work.\u00a0<\/em>Minneapolis, MN: Langdon Street, 2013. Print<\/p>\n

477 gallons of water are required to produce 1 pound of eggs; 900 gallons of water are needed for cheese.<\/h2>\n

\u201cMeateater\u2019s Guide to Climate Change & Health.\u201d Environmental Working Group.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ewg.org\/meateatersguide\/interactive-graphic\/water\/<\/a><\/p>\n

1,000 gallons of water are required to produce 1 gallon of milk.<\/h2>\n

\u201cWater trivia facts.\u201d United States Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/water.epa.gov\/learn\/kids\/drinkingwater\/water_trivia_facts.cfm#_edn11<\/a><\/p>\n

5% of water consumed in the US is by private homes.
\n55% of water consumed in the US is\u00a0for animal agriculture.<\/h2>\n

Jacobson, Michael F. \u201cMore and Cleaner Water.\u201d In\u00a0Six Arguments for a Greener Diet: How a More Plant-based Diet Could save Your Health and the Environment<\/em>. Washington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2006.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.cspinet.org\/EatingGreen\/pdf\/arguments4.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A.\u00a0Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won\u2019t Work.\u00a0<\/em>Minneapolis, MN: Langdon Street, 2013. Print.<\/p>\n

The meat and dairy industries combined use nearly 1\/3 (29%) of all the fresh water in the world today.<\/h2>\n

\u201cFreshwater Abuse and Loss: Where Is It All Going?\u201d Forks Over Knives.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.forksoverknives.com\/freshwater-abuse-and-loss-where-is-it-all-go<\/a><\/p>\n

Livestock covers 45% of the earth\u2019s total land.<\/h2>\n

Thornton, Phillip, Mario Herrero, and Polly Ericksen. \u201cLivestock and Climate Change.\u201d\u00a0Livestock Exchange<\/em>, no. 3 (2011).<\/p>\n

https:\/\/cgspace.cgiar.org\/bitstream\/handle\/10568\/10601\/IssueBrief3.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution\u00a0[iv], and habitat destruction.<\/h2>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A.\u00a0Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won\u2019t Work. .\u00a0<\/em>Minneapolis, MN : Langdon Street, 2013. Print.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the Problem?\u201d United States Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/region9\/animalwaste\/problem.html<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cLivestock\u2019s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options.\u201d Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/docrep\/010\/a0701e\/a0701e00.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFire Up the Grill for a Mouthwatering Red, White, and Green July 4th.\u201d Worldwatch Institute.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.worldwatch.org\/fire-grill-mouthwatering-red-white-and-green-july-4th<\/a><\/p>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A. \u201cBiodiversity and Food Choice: A Clarification.\u201d Comfortably Unaware. 2012<\/p>\n

http:\/\/comfortablyunaware.com\/blog\/biodiversity-and-food-choice-a-clarification\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cRisk Assessment Evaluation for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.\u201d U.S. Environmental Protection Agency \u2013 Office of Research and Development. 2004.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/nepis.epa.gov\/Exe\/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=901V0100.txt<\/a><\/p>\n

Every minute, 7 million pounds of excrement are produced by animals raised for food in the US.
\nThis doesn\u2019t include the animals raised outside of USDA jurisdiction or in backyards, or the billions of fish raised in aquaculture settings in the US.\u00a0[v]<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the Problem?\u201d United States Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/region9\/animalwaste\/problem.html<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHow To Manage Manure.\u201d Healthy Landscapes.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.uri.edu\/ce\/healthylandscapes\/livestock\/how_manure_overall.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

335 million tons of \u201cdry matter\u201d is produced annually by livestock in the US.<\/p>\n

\u201cFY-2005 Annual Report Manure and Byproduct Utilization National Program 206.\u201d
\nUSDA Agricultural Research Service. 2008.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ars.usda.gov\/research\/programs\/programs.htm?np_code=206&docid=13337<\/a><\/p>\n

A farm with 2,500 dairy cows produces the same amount of waste as a city of 411,000 people.\u00a0[vi]<\/h2>\n

\u201cRisk Assessment Evaluation for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.\u201d U.S. Environmental Protection Agency \u2013 Office of Research and Development. 2004.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/nepis.epa.gov\/Exe\/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=901V0100.txt<\/a><\/p>\n

3\/4 of the world\u2019s fisheries are exploited.<\/h2>\n

\u201cOverfishing: A Threat to Marine Biodiversity.\u201d UN News Center.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.un.org\/events\/tenstories\/06\/story.asp?storyid=800<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cGeneral Situation of World Fish Stocks.\u201d United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/newsroom\/common\/ecg\/1000505\/en\/stocks.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

90 million tons of fish are pulled from our oceans each year.\u00a0[vii]<\/h2>\n

\u201cWorld Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture.\u201d UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO). 2012.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/docrep\/016\/i2727e\/i2727e01.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

For every 1 pound of fish caught, an average of 5 pounds of unintended marine species are caught and discarded as by-kill.\u00a0[viii]<\/h2>\n

\u201cDiscards and Bycatch in Shrimp Trawl Fisheries.\u201d
\nUNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO).<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/docrep\/W6602E\/w6602E09.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

As many as 40% (63 billion pounds) of fish caught globally every year are discarded.<\/h2>\n

Goldenberg, Suzanne. \u201cAmerica\u2019s Nine Most Wasteful Fisheries Named.\u201d The Guardian.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2014\/mar\/20\/americas-nine-most-wasteful-fisheries-named<\/a><\/p>\n

Scientists estimate as many as 650,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed every year by fishing vessels.<\/h2>\n

Goldenberg, Suzanne. \u201cAmerica\u2019s Nine Most Wasteful Fisheries Named.\u201d The Guardian.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2014\/mar\/20\/americas-nine-most-wasteful-fisheries-named<\/a><\/p>\n

100 million tons of fish are caught annually.<\/h2>\n

Montaigne, fen. \u201cStill waters: The global fish crisis.\u201d National Geographic.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/ocean.nationalgeographic.com\/ocean\/global-fish-crisis-article\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Fish catch peaks at 85 million tons.<\/h2>\n

\u201cWorld Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture.\u201d UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO). 2012.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/docrep\/016\/i2727e\/i2727e01.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of Amazon destruction.<\/h2>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A.\u00a0Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won\u2019t Work. .<\/em>\u00a0Minneapolis, MN : Langdon Street, 2013. Print.<\/p>\n

Margulis, Sergio.\u00a0Causes of Deforestation of the Brazilian Rainforest<\/em>. Washington: World Bank Publications, 2003.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/openknowledge.worldbank.org\/handle\/10986\/15060<\/a><\/p>\n

1-2 acres of rainforest are cleared every second.<\/h2>\n

\u201cAvoiding Unsustainable Rainforest Wood.\u201d Rainforest Relief.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.rainforestrelief.org\/What_to_Avoid_and_Alternatives\/Rainforest_Wood.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Facts about the rainforest.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.savetherainforest.org\/savetherainforest_007.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Rainforest facts.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.rain-tree.com\/facts.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

The leading causes of rainforest destruction are livestock and feedcrops.<\/h2>\n

\u201cLivestock impacts on the environment.\u201d Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (fao). 2006.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fao.org\/ag\/magazine\/0612sp1.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

110 plant, animal and insect species are lost every day due to rainforest destruction.<\/h2>\n

\u201cRainforest statistics and facts.\u201d Save the amazon.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.savetheamazon.org\/rainforeststats.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A.\u00a0Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won\u2019t Work.\u00a0<\/em>Minneapolis, MN: Langdon Street, 2013. Print.<\/p>\n

26 million rainforest acres have been cleared for palm oil production.\u00a0[ix]<\/h2>\n

\u201cIndonesia: palm oil expansion unaffected by forest moratorium.\u201d USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. 2013.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.pecad.fas.usda.gov\/highlights\/2013\/06\/indonesia\/<\/a><\/p>\n

136 million rainforest acres cleared for animal agriculture.<\/h2>\n

\u201cAMAZON DESTRUCTION.\u201d MONGA BAY.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/rainforests.mongabay.com\/amazon\/amazon_destruction.html<\/a><\/p>\n

1,100 activists have been killed in Brazil in the past 20 years.\u00a0[x]<\/h2>\n

Batty, David. \u201cBrazilian faces retrial over murder of environmental activist nun in Amazon.\u201d The Guardian. 2009.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2009\/apr\/08\/brazilian-murder-dorothy-stang<\/a><\/p>\n

Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day.\u00a0[xi]<\/h2>\n

Ross, Philip. \u201cCow farts have \u2018larger greenhouse gas impact\u2019 than previously thought; methane pushes climate change.\u201d International Business Times. 2013.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ibtimes.com\/cow-farts-have-larger-greenhouse-gas-impact-previously-thought-methane-pushes-climate-change-1487502<\/a><\/p>\n

130 times more animal waste than human waste is produced in the US \u2013 1.4 billion tons from the meat industry annually. 5 tons of animal waste is produced for every person.\u00a0[xii]<\/h2>\n

Animal agriculture: waste management practices. United States General Accounting Office.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.gao.gov\/archive\/1999\/rc99205.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

2-5 acres of land are used per cow.<\/h2>\n

Oppenlander, Richard A.\u00a0Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won\u2019t Work.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Minneapolis, MN: Langdon Street, 2013. Print.<\/p>\n

The average American consumes 209 pounds of meat per year.<\/h2>\n

Haney, Shaun. \u201cHow much do we eat?\u201d Real agriculture. 2012. (276 lbs)<\/p>\n

How Much Meat Do We Eat?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n