Is your lunch destroying the planet?

[andrewducker]

From.

Comments

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

This report by WWF and the Food Climate Research Network includes figures for UK production (assessed up to the 'Regional Distribution Centre - so the green bars on the graph plus the processing and transport proportion of the yellow-orange bars)

Lamb = 14.61 kg CO2e/kg (so interestingly still the highest listed, although all sheep and goat production is lumped together)
Beef = 12.14 kg CO2e/kg (in comparison to world average of 32)
Pork = 4.45 kg CO2e/kg
Turkey = 3.76 kg CO2e/kg
Chicken = 2.84 kg CO2e/kg
Eggs = 2.94 kg CO2e/kg
Broccoli = 1.94 kg CO2e/kg
Tomatoes = 3.79 kg CO2e/kg

Not sure how their methodology compares to this, the land use change bit is a bit pants but only contributes a tiny proportion anyway, but at least it's using the right GWP figures and is for the UK.

[andrewducker]

Is it possible that Sheep make bad food animals because they're bred for hardiness and wool production rather than making oodles of meat?

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

Unless you raise rare breed sheep, most commercial ones these days are bred for meat production actually. But I guess they just aren't as efficient as other food animals.

[andrewducker]

Clearly what we need are are more efficient cybersheep.

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

Sorry, it's actually just the green bars - processing and distribution are deemed to be post RDC emissions.

(also apologies for html error, I can't edit the comment to correct it)