Summary
Livestock production—primarily cows—produce 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of that is in the form of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is a natural byproduct of how some livestock process food. But as Christopher Booker reports, scientists are hoping that small tweaks in what cows eat can dramatically reduce a big source of climate emissions. Watch the video on burping cows below and answer the questions.
Discussion Questions: Curbing Cow Burps
- Who is working to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced by cows?
- How much methane do cows produce through gas?
- What are greenhouse gases?
- Why are greenhouse gases important?
- What solution is proposed in this piece to reduce methane emissions form cows?
Focus Questions
What are some of the experiments involved in figuring out whether methane from cows can be reduced? Why do you think these experiments are important?
Media literacy: Why do you think the producers focused on this story as a way to show how scientists are trying to counteract climate change?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Extra.
Lesson Plans on Climate Change
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
