Methane (Potent Greenhouse Gas) Levels Rising
Here’s an article that reports a startling rise in the concentration of methane in the atmosphere, due largely to the farming of cows and pigs.
My colleague Dr. Alex Cannara writes:
“Our penchant for raising animals to eat is our major U.S. source of CH4……The lack of a comprehensive energy/emissions plan will be this administration’s legacy – ‘all of the above’ meaning ‘we’re too lazy to figure out what to do.’ Not a proud legacy.”
Craig,
The article doesn’t even MENTION animals. The study’s findings were without caveat that the leakage from natural gas production from pre-fracking technology – in this case specifically the extraction from coalbed methane – was far higher than projected. That was the study.
The fact that so much more methane is leaking from our fossil fuel industries is disturbing, yet again suggesting an even greater amount of damage done to our environment from natural gas sourced electricity and heat… But in the grand scheme of things Agriculture is only 10% of the human-sourced Greenhouse emissions problems, and the majority of THOSE emissions are a result of the outgassing of sequestered carbon and the clear-cutting of land to make more farmland… then it’s the nitrous oxide from the fertilizers, then – THEN – it’s the methane from cow burps and manure management. (And that would be cows, not pigs).
As for your colleague and his statement concerning the Obama administration, the last part of the article you linked to ends with this:
“In March 2014 the Obama Administration announced a strategy to reduce methane emissions under its Climate Action Plan. The strategy includes improving the measurement and monitoring of methane emissions and assessing current methane emissions data.”
Dr. Alex Cannara is not merely out-of-line, he’s the most effective type of agent that the far right have working for them.
“All of the above” is the recognition that there are multiple issues involving energy, and all must be considered as parts of a whole, It’s a mature response that INCLUDES a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And indeed, that is reflected by the nearly 10% drop in emissions from 2007 to 2013 – despite the fact that real GDP has risen 6.2% during that time. There’s never been another time in U.S. history we’ve had growth in GDP correspond to a drop in emissions, and here we’ve seen a 4-year span, from 2009 to 2013, of very strong GDP growth (~2.3%/year) corresponding with static greenhouse emissions reduction . THAT will be Obama’s legacy. That, and the affordable care act, and pulling us out of our downward spiral towards a second Great Depression and giving us 56 months and counting of steady growth and strong jobs growth… and reducing the deficit by a trillion dollars in 5 years…. Overall, that’s a pretty good legacy, so far.
The left MUST stop throwing tantrums about what we haven’t gotten yet. The Tea Party is organized and disciplined. Every day they scream endless lies and hate against the president and the democrats at large. Because of this discipline, they have managed to vastly overperform their actual representation in the population, and it’s possible they will re-take the senate this year. Meanwhile, the left throws tantrums for what they haven’t gotten rather than take a few seconds to appreciate what they have gotten… so the democrats UNDERperform their actual representation of the population.
Because of whining like that of your friend Dr Alex Cannara, the republicans may re-take the senate, and once again install Inhofe as the head of the science and technology committee. How is Dr Cannara helping America? How is this kind of spiteful blindness making responsible policy possible? I remember Obama fighting like mad to get something through, but he couldn’t get past the republican filibuster… and the left’s answer is to put more republicans in office. It’s disgusting.
Thanks. Excellent points. You should know that Dr. Cannara is a fierce advocate of advanced nuclear, and is part of that crowd that believes molten salt reactors are the only hope left for humankind. They DO tend to brush off anything good that may have happened, and all other potential solutions. Again, thanks for the comment.
Oh, that’s why he’s so frustrated… The nuclear guys have gotten the short stick from the DOE during Obama’s presidency. I thought Chu was a horrible bureaucrat – for all his brilliance in science… I really don’t know that I’ve seen any positive changes under Moniz… There’s been less wasted in pure junk science, but there’s not been a corresponding amount of greater investment in good projects, it’s just been budget cuts from the sequester and Moniz’s team did a good job of cutting some of the fattiest fat since they had to cut something… But that doesn’t get us closer to the finish line. We still aren’t investing sufficiently in projects that could move us forward… and that list includes LFTR (of course, it also includes Windfuels, and I’m not running around cursing the President in a mad attempt to get the Tea Party more senate seats).
Even if Dr. Cannara has a legitimate gripe, he’s not helping his cause – or the nation – by trying to pull the left away from their support of the President.