Methane emissions

Tackling methane through improved ruminant health

One of the major deals which came out of the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow was the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), which commits 100 countries to reducing global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. The pledge is a tough step in a climate change transition marathon – but it is also a feasible goal. 

Why does this concern ruminants? Ruminants are frequently in the news because of their enteric methane emissions, which result from their ability to use microbes in their rumen to convert cellulose in low value forage into human-edible protein, as found in meat and milk. Methane emissions from UK ruminants are currently relatively stable, breaking down at the same rate they are emitted. However, the focus on ruminants is not about who caused warming historically or who is contributing to it now – it’s about what we have in our toolbox to cap temperature rise before it reaches a tipping point.

Ruminant Health & Welfare believes the ruminant sectors can help the UK towards its methane goals  by blending new science with high levels of care – and to even go beyond this reduction target in the long term.