Cow Burps Are Helping To Cause Climate Change


Cows and other livestock produce methane, a prevalent greenhouse gas, as they digest their food. Pound for pound, methane has more than 25 times the impact of carbon dioxide on climate change. In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations found that "the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent - 18 percent - than transport." Farmers are currently trying to cut down on the amount of methane that cows produce through various methods, including dietary changes.

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Key Facts In This Video

  1. Pound for pound, methane is about 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its impact on climate change. 00:16

  2. A cow's diet can affect the amount of methane the cow produces. 01:07

  3. Reducing a cow's methane output is beneficial for farmers as well, as it can boost the cow's milk production. 02:25
