USDA Fights Climate Change

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest more than $320 million over the next four years to make agriculture more sustainable, both in the US and around the world. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, along with representatives from 20 other countries, introduced the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases on December 16 at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. This global agreement aims to develop new technology and farming methods to meet rising food demands while simultaneously reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Some of the nations participating in this partnership include India, Canada, the UK, and Japan. According to the USDA, agriculture is responsible for 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the environmental impact and inefficiency of animal agriculture, a pledge to go veg may soon follow.