Now it's CowGate: Expert Report Says Claims of Livestock Causing Global Warming are False

south-park-cowBy Gerald Warner

It is becoming difficult to keep pace with the speed at which the global warming scam is now unravelling. The latest reversal of scientific “consensus” is on livestock and the meat trade as a major cause of global warming – one-fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to eco-vegetarian cranks. Now a scientific report delivered to the American Chemical Society says it is nonsense. The Washington Times has called it “Cowgate”.

The cow-burp hysteria reached a crescendo in 2006 when a United Nations report ominously entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” claimed: “The livestock sector is a major player, responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalents). This is a higher share than transport.” This led to demands in America for a “cow tax” and a campaign in Europe at the time of the Copenhagen car crash last December called Less Meat=Less Heat.

Now a report to the American Chemical Society by Frank Mitloehner, an air quality expert at the University of California at Davis, has denounced such scare-mongering as “scientifically inaccurate”. He reveals that the UN report lumped together digestive emissions from livestock, gases produced by growing animal feed and meat and milk processing, to get the highest possible result, whereas the traffic comparison only covered fossil fuel emissions from cars. The true ratio, he concludes, is just 3 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in America are attributable to rearing of cattle and pigs, compared with 26 per cent from transport.

Mitloehner also makes the deadly serious point: “Producing less meat and milk will only mean more hunger in poor countries.” Precisely. The demonising of cows and pigs is just another example of global warmists’ callous indifference to starvation in the developing world, as in the case of the unbelievably immoral and reckless drive for biofuels – pouring Third World resources for subsistence into Western liberals’ fuel tanks – and, notoriously, carbon trading.

Week by week the AGW collapse intensifies. Himalayan glaciers, polar bears, Arctic ice, Amazon rainforests, all discredited. Now it turns out the great cow-burp scare is bovine excrement too. The global warming scam is, to the majority of people, an object of derision. The scientific community has also at last wakened up. They are smelling the coffee in more and more institutions these days.

Read the rest of this article at the London Telegraph.

45 Responses to Now it's CowGate: Expert Report Says Claims of Livestock Causing Global Warming are False

  1. Cubanshamoo March 26, 2010 at 4:38 am #

    Yeah, but in Switzerland there is a newspaper called “20 Minuten” that is accusing the cows of GW. They don’t even realize there are millions of liberals breathing in this world. If fact, all these heavily concerned people should make suicide to safe the world. They are polluting our air with their breath

  2. Neil F. AGWD/BSD March 26, 2010 at 9:06 pm #

    CS, what is with all the death humor? First it was the midwife and Eyeore, now you want AGW believers to save the world by commiting suicide. What are we going to do with you? I think they should just wear a bag over their head to catch the emissions, however I haven’t figured out how to make it so they don’t die when they do this. Death would come swiftly too because they are already brain dead.

  3. Hal Goar March 27, 2010 at 8:18 am #

    I saw something in there that is a first for me. They are now using the term “COe”? Carbon Dioxide equivalents? I do not like this. They have opened the door to calling things they deem undesirable COe. Is this a new thing or have I been breezing past it in my reading? I don’t think I have. Guys?

  4. Sandy McClintock March 27, 2010 at 11:39 pm #

    Many African farmers rely on their animals for survival.
    If all domestic animals in Africa were ‘removed’ this would reduce the world’s output of Methane by 2%.
    Thats a high price to pay if you are a poor farmer.
    Isolated Australian towns have NOT been heating up over the last 100 years.
    But someone has tampered with the official records to show warming and the government are presenting the tampered (adjusted) data as the true picture.
    Have they gone totally mad? – they have left both sets of data on the same government web site. see http://carbon-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/echuca-temperature.pdf

  5. Hal Groar March 28, 2010 at 12:36 pm #

    Now it is called COe? When was that term coined? Pretty broad definition don’t you think? Has anyone heard this term before?

    • Neil F. AGWD/BSD March 28, 2010 at 3:10 pm #

      I believe what they mean by CO2e is other gases like methane (which is the main ingredient of the cow flatuance, and human flatuance too), CFC’s (Chloroflourocarbons), and HFC’s (Hydroflourocarbons). They are trying to say that these are CO2 equivalents. That is what the e stands for. But if memory serves me correctly, the GWP (Global Warming Potential) of these different gases are not the same and thus can not be called equivalent. Although if you are only comparing the theory that these are all supposedly “greenhouse” gases in general, then the term is not that big of a deal. Unscientific, and inaccurate, but not a big deal.
      I would say it is not something to lose sleep over Hal. I have never heard the term either, and I took environmental sciences, and had a course devoted entirely to refrigerants in HVAC at trade college. That term was not used once. It was probably said by someone talking out of their a**, trying to sound cool.

  6. Neil F. AGWD/BSD March 28, 2010 at 10:20 pm #

    You know I like going to the NSIDC website to look at Arctic sea ice extent. I am even more convinced than ever (and I was already pretty convinced) that there is no AGW in the Arctic, or anywhere else for that matter. Now I know that I am not a scientist, and am by no means an expert on climate. But it does not take a college education to see that the effects of AGW, as predicted by the fearmongering alarmists, have not materialized. In fact Arctic sea ice levels are now within 2 standard deviations of the 1979-2000 average, and have been for about 2 1/2 weeks. http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/N_stddev_timeseries.png
    This is not supposed to be happening, according to Eyeore et al. So why do they keep insisting that it is happening? Why is all of the evidence to the contrary? Do these people look up at the blue sky and see green?

  7. Cubanshamoo March 29, 2010 at 12:42 am #

    Indeed Neil, I think there is no solution with me. I like that kind of humor. It help to make just a little bit more cinic their daily cynism. In any case, don’t worry, they will appreciate the destruction of human kind, but they will never even castrate themself to save the planet.

  8. Rob N. Hood March 29, 2010 at 11:18 am #

    Military vehicles and weapons are being sold to militaries around the world like hotcakes; companies that provide mercenary troops are making money hand over fist; suppliers of everything from food, to clothing, to fuel, to toilet paper are having a field day filling their orders; the troops are getting their promotions and their ribbons, and building their pensions, and getting the training that will allow them to sell their services to the mercenary companies; congressional districts are each getting their share of the pie, in contracts and subcontracts; borrowed Chinese cash flows into the country like a river; money-making opportunities are abundant…

    What’s to complain about?

  9. paul wenum March 29, 2010 at 7:56 pm #

    Can’t help it to enter this site again. What the hell has your comments have that are relevant to a “farting cow?”

  10. Cubanshamoo March 30, 2010 at 5:20 am #

    Nice to see you around Paul. BTW I am buying a home in USA, so if God helps in some years another four Republican votes!!!!

  11. Rob N. Hood March 30, 2010 at 7:24 am #

    Everything’s related… think deeper.

  12. Rob N. Hood March 30, 2010 at 11:18 am #

    Cuban- why would you want to live in a country (USA) you believe is going to become Communist??? Oh, so you can add your votes and help out that way? Wouldn’t it make more sense to move to a country that is already very right-wing and live happily ever after?

    I suspect you like the USA because it is already very right-wing, for the most part. But you wish it was even more extremely Right…??? Thanks, but no thanks. There are plenty of Right-wing regimes to choose from around the globe. I’m sure you would be happier in those places than here.

  13. paul wenum March 30, 2010 at 7:57 pm #

    Cubanshammo, you are moving to the best country in the world even with our problems that by the way, will be resolved one way or the other. We don’t have coups in America, just simple dissenting discourse which is the American Way. Always has been and always will be as long as we have and live by our Constitution. Enough said. Now-On to the demise of Cap N Trade!!! The death nail to American commerce as we now know it. Talk about unemployment? It would be major if passed.

    • Rob N. Hood April 1, 2010 at 6:37 am #

      Our latest coups occurred in 2000, and again in 2004. Due to real historical records it occurred in 1980 also, and of course the first one in my lifetime at least was when JFK’s brains were blown out in public. (honorable mention for that period of fascist coup includes RFK and MLK).

  14. Hal Groar March 30, 2010 at 8:32 pm #

    Sorry about the double-triple post on the CO2e question…computer malfunction. Cuban, just know if you work hard you can do anything you want in this country. Even run around spouting non-sense while claiming to be a man dressed in green tights! The world is your oyster!

  15. paul wenum March 31, 2010 at 1:13 am #

    I think Cuban has done more than anyone on this site and for that I sincerely respect him. Adversity brings out the best in most people, not all. Cunanshammo being one that I respect. Keep it up my friend.

  16. Cubanshamoo March 31, 2010 at 4:52 am #

    Robin Hood- why would you want to turn USA into a communist country??? Oh, so you don’t need votes to force other people to follow liberal orders? Wouldn’t it make more sense you move to a country that is already very left-wing and live happily ever after? Cuba will be a great option for you!!!
    I suspect you like mexicans in USA because they always vote for democrats. Cubans like me love USA for 3 main reasons: (1) it is the only country in the world that gave protection to the 20% of the Cuban population (very bad most be the communism when 20% escaped, 40’000 has die in the jaws of sharks and the other 80% dream to reach Florida’s shores despite the dangers at the sea) (2) USA citizens have rights and obligations, while in Cuba you have only obligations and in Europe, Sharia law is on the way, and (3) because even with all the mistakes of Bush, he wasn’t so stupid concerning Global Warming like the president you have elected with tears in your eyes!!!
    Thanks Paul, I am sure that if Cuba is free one day, millions of retired Northamericans will be wellcome in my home land. That will be a paradise for many elders without too much money to spend. It was like that before 1959

    • Rob N. Hood April 1, 2010 at 6:39 am #

      Colin Peterson (Dem) is sponsoring a bill to reduce trade barriers with Cuba (i.e. capitalism). Obama will probably be the Prez that open things up for a capitalistic Cuba.

      • Dan McGrath April 1, 2010 at 8:22 am #

        More like propping up a failed communist Cuba.

        • Rob N. Hood April 2, 2010 at 7:01 am #

          Always the negator. If Obama was a Repub you’d be praising his economic acumen.

          • Dan April 2, 2010 at 7:10 am #

            No. I’d be saying why did we elect this bozo? He’s ruining our economy! I’m still upset that Bush began the bailout rip-offs on his way out of office.

            I suppose I’d love cap and trade if it was Norm Coleman who supported it – oh wait, he did. Another bozo.

  17. paul wenum March 31, 2010 at 9:23 pm #

    Thanks Cubanshamoo. Take care.

  18. cubanshamoo April 1, 2010 at 11:31 am #

    Rob, are you really so naive? Carter already lost his honor trying to end the embargo in 1975, Clinton as well in his two administrations and Bush Jr. was the only who sold more than 800 millions of products to Cuba for one single reason: Castro accepted (temporaly) to make angry the European Union, because Europeans started to talk about human rights in 2003 for the first time in decades of apathy. Everytime an US administration try to end the embargo, Castro create a new wave of refugees (Camarioca in the 70’s, Mariel in the 80’s, and the Elian’s in the 90’s) to stop Democrat’s naive solidarity. Why, very simple: if Cuba can negociate with all the countries of the world, who will Castro blame for the poor records (political, economical, and social) of comunism? Castro make business with 185 nations in the planet, however the economical disaster of the island is justified because the embargo exist. The US embargo is the best friend he have to hide his govermental failure, and all leftist chains in USA help him to amplify that propaganda, then dudes likes you, swallow the pil. Man, read something interesting like Quijote and stop looking Jim Clancy, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, or CNN, PBS, ABC and NBC News.

    • Rob N. Hood April 2, 2010 at 7:03 am #

      You just made my argument for me. Obama’s too. Maybe you should get a job in his Adminsitration, like Ambassador from Switzerland.

  19. paul wenum April 1, 2010 at 8:31 pm #

    Cubanshahamoo, My father-in-law as well as my grandfather told me about ration cards during World War II and they dealt with it due to the war effort and lack of resources, however, not for the rest of their lives from birth to death as is the case in Cuba. Correct my if I’m wrong. l don’t want my children going through that in American. Of course there is our “new Health Care” where, in my opinion there will be rationing such as it exits in Cuba at present. Let me know your take and thoughts on this issue. Thanks.

  20. Rob N. Hood April 2, 2010 at 7:07 am #

    Uhhhmmmm. Gee Paul ever see the rankings for human health? I believe Cuba comes out higher than the USA. In fact, MANY countries come before the USA. Probably more Liberal propaganda, though, huh?

    I’ve finally decided to continue believing in Global Warming for the simple fact that since you guys are completely wrong about EVERY other issue imaginable, the odds are WAY to great that you can be right about anything else.

    Thanks for helping settle the matter for me personally. No more restless nights…

  21. Rob N. Hood April 2, 2010 at 7:09 am #

    And oh, the new health care bill that you seem to so afraid of only reinforces the private for-profit health care system. Another in the wrong column. How can you people be so wrong about everything and yet win out in the end on 99% of everything?? Another deep mystery of nature I guess.

  22. paul wenum April 2, 2010 at 9:32 pm #

    Without going into detail I know the insurance industry quite well my friend, actuaries, costs, profit margins, etc. etc.. Trust me. In 10 years you and your family will be praying for the system we used to have before” ObamaCare.” There is no doubt in my mind and I will bet the farm on it. Cannot fathom carrying a ration card or waiting 2 years for a colonoscopy. My brother in law has colon cancer. No scan. Under the new system, at his age, try and get one without waiting 1-3 years then it will be to late or the Government says that you may be to old?? The old cost/benefit. Governments don’t care about a profit, only corporations do to pay their employees. Government employees are paid by you!!!! I still sense that you have never looked at a P & L/income statement. Do you balance your checkbook and watch your budget??? Do you run a negative balance in your checking account every month with no remorse. Do you pay your bills with no money in the bank? Do you lend money to people knowing that 90% will never be paid back? Our government does daily. Think about it!

  23. Rob N. Hood April 3, 2010 at 2:49 pm #

    Chicken little the sky is falling. Get out those votes before the commies get us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Sore winner.

  24. paul wenum April 3, 2010 at 11:23 pm #

    No the “commies” aren’t coming. It is people with your mind-set that is extremely disturbing. Times will be changing my friend. Hopefully for the better. If not and things keep going towards entitlement for everything, we will have a major problem. As you know, I’m s simple man with simple thoughts just like an average American. Of course, I’m not a “Progressive” that tells me how to live as the “Trust Babies” suck from their golden nipple from Mom and Dad that made their future secure with no efort on their part..

  25. cubanshamoo April 5, 2010 at 11:30 am #

    Paul,
    I had rights to drink milk until the age of 7, I was unable to complain for a bad treatment after a parachute accident because they take care of me free of charge. As consequence I lose vision in one eye. After complains for transporting hand granades in airplanes instead of the declared baby food to Nicaragua, I saw my pilot’s license denied, because “eye problems”. In Orlando, a FAA inspector (a coastguard helicopter pilot) make me a long test called SODA (Statement of Demonstration Avility) and after landing, he said you can apply for a clase B license with your unique eye. On 2003 I try to help US troops as parachuter in Irak, the officials told me I was too old. But I try… for more about the nice hospitals in Cuba, see the link

    http://www.gentiuno.com/articulo.asp?articulo=2167

  26. Rob N. Hood April 5, 2010 at 11:42 am #

    Paul, then we both dislike “trust babies.” Imagine that. As for you Cubanwhatever…..WHATEVER!

  27. paul wenum April 5, 2010 at 10:28 pm #

    Cunanshammo, Thank you. It looks like “Obamacare” circa 2014.

  28. Cubanshamoo April 6, 2010 at 4:47 am #

    [edited]
    If I will be the Switzerland ambassador I will not be able to be part of the Obama’s administration, but of the Swiss government. It is so difficult for you to understand such simple thing?
    But never mind, I will ask you somenthing, maybe you have an idea. If your knowledge on climate is so poor and you see that you even aren’t able to learn, why you try to change the theme into something you already demonstrate you know a lot less?. Eh Robby, kids first learn how to walk before start running.

  29. Rob N. Hood April 6, 2010 at 8:15 am #

    So Obama and the Democrats – the alleged party of the people, mind you, as opposed to those Wall Street hacks in the GOP – wrote a bill that takes a system whose fundamental flaw is the profitization of human beings’ most intimate and core vulnerabilities, and they exacerbated that problem, literally forcing tens of millions of Americans to buy a grossly flawed private product they probably don’t want, under peril of government-imposed penalty. If the great governance theme of our historical epoch is, as I believe it to be, the capture of the state for purposes of private enrichment, there can be no greater example than this bill. No longer content with simply using the state to aggregate the wealth of working people to facilitate its easy transfer to elites, this bill marks a frightening step further. Here we have corporate interests using the state (again, under the control of the nominal people’s party, no less) to now engage in coercive ‘marketing’ on their behalf. A big and bold line has been crossed with this legislation, and it does not bode well for the future. Welcome to our brave new world.

  30. Paul Wenum April 6, 2010 at 7:47 pm #

    The line has been drawn, not “crossed.” Not yet, I dearly hope. Now the question is “Who will take the right step over the line to correct the wrongs by both parties?” Includes LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 and now Obama. (did I miss one?) They are all quilty of a socialist/entitlement agenda. I personally do not see that person on the horizon that has the moral compass to take us forward. “He who seeks shall find.” I’m still looking.

  31. Cubanshamoo April 7, 2010 at 2:15 am #

    Scream Rob, I can’t hear you :-)))))

  32. Rob N. Hood April 7, 2010 at 7:36 am #

    You don’t get it do you? Obama is helping the private sector… you know capitalism… what you all love so much???

  33. paul wenum April 7, 2010 at 10:44 pm #

    My God, what have you been drinking/reading/hearing??? My God, you must be a neanderthal. Go back to your cave. President Obama helping capitalism? What planet do you live on? Actually, I hope he does look back on his policies and says, “Damn, what have I done? I must get back to reality.” Only in my wildest dreams. Of course, dreams have been known to come true? By the way, Cubanshamoo, trust me, he will.

  34. Rob N. Hood April 8, 2010 at 7:14 am #

    He’s mandating that people have/get PRIVATE INSURANCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    What about that DON’T you UNDERSTAND????????????????????

  35. Dan April 8, 2010 at 11:10 am #

    The mandate is just the first step. Next comes “public option” which crushes private insurance companies (after they’re already crying uncle from all the mandates that make them unprofitable). And anyway, forcing small businesses to provide insurance and forcing consumers to buy it isn’t helping the private sector. What helps the private sector is free markets. This is anything but.

    • Rob N. Hood April 17, 2010 at 3:44 pm #

      Look- I never said I believed in any mandates in fact I don’t. And it’s MERE conjecture to say it will lead to the public option- and sooo dishonest about this discussion. HE IS REINFORCING THE PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT SYSTEM- NOT ANYTHING ELSE. What is it about what I really type and REALITY you people can’t seem to grasp???

      And- THE FOR-PROFIT SYSTEM IS THE FREE MARKET… talk about confused individuals, you guys take the fruit cake.

  36. paul wenum April 8, 2010 at 11:56 pm #

    Rob, just the word “Mandate” tells American’s like me to say “No way!” Nobody tells a true American what they must purchase or get fined and if the fine is not paid you must go to jail. If that is the American that I live in, we have a hell of a problem. All my friends agree. Next thing I know the government will be telling me I must buy GM knowing that they own 61%, if not I get a fine? It is so simplistic it is pathetic. That said, the average American could care less. Too busy watching reality TV and American Idol and Dancing with an Idiot! They don’t even know their own Governor in the State they reside in! Sad but true. How about a “Reality TV show” about “Reality in real life America.” Now that could make a ton of money if done properly with “real” people. OK Rob, there’s your Lotto ticket for life. Go for it.

  37. paul wenum April 9, 2010 at 8:49 pm #

    I must comment on mandates. Just met my neighbor up north as we get ready for the upcoming fishing opener. I noticed he had a new Ford F-150 and he has always driven GM as well as I. I commented on his vehicle and asked him why he changed. Answer was that even though a GM guy, Ford was the only company that did not take the bailout money and until the government is out of the picture he flat out refuses to buy GM. By the way, his wife is a school teacher and firmly agreed. He does not want the government mandating healthcare, vehicles purchases, how to eat, sleep, teach, and eventually walk/talk. Reminds him of “1984” and lemmings as I’ve previously stated. Boy, I’m glad I’m at the cabin. Have at least two days until reality hits again like my neighbor. Now I know why my neighbor back in the Cities bought Ford as well instead of Government Motors that he had done for 30+ years. I always wondered why and now I think I know the answer.

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