Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture are a major contributor to climate change. The Stern review 2006
identified that agriculture accounted for ~14 % of GHG with an additional 18% of emissions due to deforestation to
provide more agricultural land. In the UK about 7% of GHG is contributed by agriculture (AEA Technology plc, 2007).
The main greenhouse gases are nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Of these N2O is ~300
times more potent GHG than CO2 and CH4 is 21 times more potent than CO2. In the UK agriculture is the major
contributor to N2O and some 70kt N2O is emitted annually equivalent to 21.7Mt CO2. Enteric fermentation contributes
greatly to methane emission and there is evidence that feed composition and inclusion of oil in the ration can reduce
CH4 emissions by ruminants (Beauchemin and McGinn, 2006).
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Livestock and Global Climate Change |
Editors | P. Rowlinson, M. Steele, A. Nefzaoui |
Pages | 204-206 |
Number of pages | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Event | Proceedings Livestock and Global Climate Change - Hammamet, Tunisia Duration: 17 May 2008 → 20 May 2008 |
Conference
Conference | Proceedings Livestock and Global Climate Change |
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Country/Territory | Tunisia |
City | Hammamet |
Period | 17 May 2008 → 20 May 2008 |