Daily Current Affairs : 6-October-2023
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently unveiled a groundbreaking report, “Methane Emissions in Livestock and Rice Systems,” emphasizing the pressing issue of methane emissions from livestock and rice paddies. This report holds critical implications for climate change, aligning closely with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report.
Understanding Methane Emissions: A Global Challenge
Methane Contributors
- Ruminant Livestock and Manure Management: Responsible for 32% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.
- Rice Paddies: Contribute an additional 8% of methane emissions.
- Other Human Activities: Landfills, oil and natural gas systems, coal mines, and more also generate methane emissions.
Ruminants and Methane
- Cattle: Highest daily emitters of methane among ruminants, followed by sheep, goats, and buffalo.
- Importance of Ruminants: Ruminants encompass a diverse group of animals and play a crucial role in global food production.
The Growing Challenge: Meeting Global Demand for Animal Products
- Increasing Demand: Anticipated 60-70% increase in global demand for animal products by 2050.
- Focus on Feed Improvement: Enhancing feed efficiency through various strategies to reduce methane emissions.
Strategies for Mitigating Methane Emissions
- Animal Breeding and Management
- Feed Management, Diet Formulation, and Precision Feeding
- Forages
- Rumen Manipulation
Challenges and Research Gaps: The Road Ahead
- Lack of Regional Data: Challenges in calculating accurate carbon footprints.
- Economically Viable Solutions: Limited practical and cost-effective methane mitigation solutions.
Initiatives Driving Change: India and the Global Community
Indian Initiatives
- Harit Dhara (HD): Developed anti-methanogenic feed supplement by ICAR, reducing cattle methane emissions by 17-20%.
- National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Promotes climate-resilient practices, including methane reduction in rice cultivation.
- National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): Developed technologies for methane emissions reduction in rice cultivation.
Global Initiatives
- Methane Alert and Response System (MARS): Uses satellite data to detect methane emission events globally, facilitating swift action.
- Global Methane Pledge: Involves nearly 100 countries committed to cutting methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.
- Global Methane Initiative (GMI): Aims to recover and use methane as a clean energy source, fostering international cooperation.
Important Points:
- FAO released a report on “Methane Emissions in Livestock and Rice Systems.”
- Methane emissions from livestock and rice paddies impact climate change significantly.
- Paris Agreement and IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report emphasize the need to reduce methane emissions.
- Ruminant livestock and manure management contribute to 32% of global methane emissions.
- Rice paddies contribute an additional 8% of methane emissions.
- Cattle are the highest daily emitters of methane among ruminants.
- Global demand for animal products is expected to increase by 60-70% by 2050.
- Strategies for reducing methane emissions include improving feed efficiency, diet formulation, and precision feeding, among others.
- Challenges include a lack of regional data and limited economically viable methane mitigation solutions.
- Indian initiatives like Harit Dhara and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture focus on reducing methane emissions.
- Global initiatives like Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) and Global Methane Pledge aim to cut methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.
- Global Methane Initiative (GMI) promotes using methane as a clean energy source.
- Collaboration and innovative strategies are essential for achieving a methane-neutral future.
Why In News
In September 2023, during the inaugural ‘Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation,’ the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) unveiled a groundbreaking report titled ‘Methane Emissions in Livestock and Rice Systems.’ This report sheds light on the substantial climate impact arising from methane emissions in both livestock and rice paddies. It emphasizes the pivotal role of mitigating methane emissions in alignment with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, as highlighted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report.
MCQs about Methane Emissions
-
What is the primary focus of the FAO report ?
A) Soil Conservation
B) Methane Emissions in Livestock and Rice Systems
C) Deforestation
D) Water Pollution
-
Which category of animals is the highest daily emitter of methane among ruminants?
A) Sheep
B) Buffalo
C) Cattle
D) Goats
-
What is the goal of the Global Methane Pledge ?
A) Cut methane emissions by at least 20% by 2025
B) Cut methane emissions by at least 10% by 2030
C) Cut methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030
D) Cut methane emissions by at least 15% by 2028
-
Which of the following is a strategy to mitigate methane emissions?
A) Increasing coal production
B) Enhancing feed efficiency
C) Encouraging deforestation
D) Using more natural gas
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
