Global Warming and Stratospheric Ozone Layer Depletion by Greenhouse Gases with Special Reference to Methane Production from Indian Livestock Khan M.Y.1, Khan Farah2, Haque N.* Division of Animal Nutrition Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnnagar-243122, India. *Reprint request: Dr. N. Haque, Tel: +91-581-442313; Fax: +91-581-447284; E-mail: haqueivri@rediffmail.com
1Present address: N-43, Shastri Nagar, Bareilly-243 122, India. 2Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi-110062, India. Abstract Climate change following large scale industrialization has drawn world wide attention. Rise in global human population at an annual growth of two per cent, with increased rate of energy consumption (4%) and global poverty which delays the adoption of eco-friendly technologies are stated to be the main reasons for increasing atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases leading to global warming and depletion of protective ozone layer in the stratosphere. It is stated that until the level of emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is maintained at the year 1990 level, the sufferings inflicted on mankind will reach to a point of no return. However, political awareness of the problem and intergovernmental accords have started to show results. This paper reviews some of the recent informations on contribution of greenhouse gases on climate change with special reference to methane, whose contribution from animals and paddy fields is about 150 million tonnes per year. Indian livestock is estimated to produce about 9 million tonnes of methane/year. Top Key words Global warming, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse gases, Methane. Top |