The science behind climate change and sustainability is complicated but it is important that the critical facts and the best information currently available enters the public arena. Veterinarians play a very significant role in discussing these issues with their clients, and the general public: sometimes this will involve some serious science, and sometimes lighter topics can be explored . The media to which the general public is exposed, is often guilty of playing ‘fast and loose’ with the facts. In this series, we will examine the evidence behind some of the articles and media information that appears and attempt to equip VetSalus members with background information and supporting facts, which they may use when discussing some of the more misleading or contentious statements.
Reading many articles in the popular press will frequently lead one to the conclusion that methane comes from burping cattle. It is all about those nasty cattle and sheep, consuming vegetation that could be supporting biodiversity while producing meat and dairy products that the world doesn't really need. It’s a simple, easy to understand message that many societies, particularly those who don’t have to wonder where the next meal is coming from, have bought into.
There is of course no denying that methane is a potent greenhouse gas and that it is produced by ruminants in significant quantities. The VetSalus website contains a number of articles reviewing this situation.[1] But there are also numerous other sources of methane in the atmosphere and the warming effect of each molecule is, of course, totally independent of the origins of that molecule.
So it has been interesting to recently read several reports on non-ruminant sources of methane. The Guardian has been highlighting this issue throughout the year, with a report in early October focusing on the excessive quantities of the gas emitted from landfill sites in Turkey.[2] Turkey is the host of the next COP meeting, so it is no coincidence that its environmental credentials will be closely examined. This meeting, COP 31, will take place in mid November and is the latest in the series addressing the global warming threat. The Guardian reports that the landfill site at Silivri, near Istanbul, is one of the worst in the world producing some 7.4 tonnes of methane per hour. This may prove embarrassing to the host country, which has placed reducing methane emissions at the top of the COP 31 agenda.
Landfill sites are not the only significant sources of methane emissions globally; leaks from oil and gas pipelines are another serious concern. The same newspaper, which has been running a series of articles on methane sources linked to the ‘stop methane’ project at UCLA, reports that one of the most serious sources is located in Turkmenistan, which ‘hosts’ 15 of the worst oil and gas leaks in 2025.[3]
But all is not lost! Later reports show that Turkmenistan is tackling the problem and eight leaks caused by corroded pipes and ageing facilities have subsequently been repaired. [4] Several other countries, particularly Mexico, remain significant offenders.
Another major source of global methane is the melting of the permafrost regions, accelerated by global warming. The permafrost is a vast area which contains around three times the vegetative matter of the rest of the planet, in the form of frozen, inert material. This represents 1,500 gigatonnes of carbon which has been removed from circulation. As this region melts, bacterial activity increases and methane, and carbon dioxide, are released. Just how much will be released over the next century is uncertain; it will depend on how warm the planet becomes, but there is the potential to lose at least 300 gigatonnes, which is several times the current emissions of the entire EU. [5]
All of this puts the contribution from ruminants into perspective, not least because the methane from agricultural sources is a by-product of something useful, namely food: leaking gas pipes and melting tundra represent pure waste! Updated data (2026,) from the trusted ‘Our World in Data source’ , gives agriculture as the single largest sector for methane emissions at 4.1 billion tonnes, when measured as carbon dioxide equivalents. In contrast, fugitive emissions, those escaping from various leaks and malfunctions, total 3.2 billion tonnes. The figures for agriculture include all production systems, including significant contributions from chocolate, coffee and rice.[6]
At VetSalus, we are working with consultant veterinarians, to improve sustainability and reduce the methane emissions and carbon footprints of farms. There are many ways to achieve this and we outline some in our new publication “How vets Reduce the Carbon Footprints of Farms”, which is available now on Amazon and Kindle click here to view. We may not be able to repair corroded pipelines but we can help to reduce the intensity of emissions linked to food production from animals.
This article has used A.I. resources to search for references but these were reviewed before use and the articles have been written and edited by a human brain.
If you are interested in the work of VetSalus, you will find a wider range of articles and educational material on our web site: www.vetsalus.com