[LINK] 'Smart' cars as fuel-efficient as hybrids

[Antony Barry]

On 17/05/2007, at 10:57 AM, Stewart Fist wrote:

> The real problem is not the production of CO2 since most living things
> produce it constantly.
>
> ...

> Cows and sheep don't do this, and nor do humans, or other living  
> things.

If it was CO2 it clearly wouldn't be a problem. The trouble is  
ruminants produce methane (CH4) in their digestion which is a much  
more potent greenhouse gas[1] and this is where the greenhouse effect  
from ruminants is coming from. The good news is the residence time  
for methane is only 12 years as opposed to 100-200 for CO2. Sure the  
carbon is from biological sources rather than fossil but some of it  
ends up as CH4 for a time.

1. 21 times CO2 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_equivalent>

Tony

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