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Comment 32 for Water Comments for the GHG Scoping Plan (sp-water-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: S.
Last Name: Lapaire
Email Address: Sophie@bridgemakersconsulting.com
Affiliation:

Subject: Water Efficiency - what about livestock production?
Comment:
Thank you for taking a leadership role in addressing climate
change. We have little time and a lot of work ahead of us.

One aspect I do not see addressed here is the significant
water savings that can be had by recommending Californians eat
less meat and even adopt over time a plant based diet, which is
the quickest and most efficient means of reducing water
consumption. 

More water used in agriculture than urban usage.  Your report
mentions reducing water usage by 20 % in urban areas and having a
public use charge on a per hook up basis.  According to "Saving
Water From Field to Fork," a report presented to the UN and
written by the Stockholm International Water Institute et al,
although most water conservation efforts are in the home, (ie
urban areas), only 10 percent of water is actually used in the
residences. Another 20 percent is used by industry.  A full 70
percent on a global basis is used by agriculture.  They also state
that vegetarian diets are far more efficient than meat centered
diets, citing that one kg of beef takes 5,000 to 20,000 liters to
produce vs. one kg of wheat which takes 500 to 2,000 liters. 

(sources:    Saving Water from Field to Fork, Stockholm
International Water Institute, International Water Management
Institute, Chalmers, and Stockholm Environment Institute.  May
2008, http://www.siwi.org/sa/node.asp?node=305

 Press Conference on “Saving Water from Field to Fork,” United
Nations, Department of Public Information, New York, May 14,
2008,http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2008/080514_Water.doc.htm)


UC Davis report finds vegan diets are better at conserving
water.  In 1991. University of California-Davis researcher Marcia
Kreith (who is still at UCD, just in a new role) was written for
the Water Education Foundation in Sacramento titled "Water Inputs
in California Food Production."  In the report, she detailed that

1 serving of beef grown in California requires 1,232 gallons of
water.  
1 serving of chicken grown in Calif. requires 330 gallons of
water.
1 complete well balanced vegan meal of tofu, brown rice and two
servings of broccoli requires only 98 gallons of water.

These numbers speak for themselves and therefore should be
considered in your plan. Not to mention that United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organization(UNFAO)states that 18 percent of
global emissions come from livestock rearing -- more than global
transportation. 

So if you are really serious about wanting to save water in
California, you should go after the number one industry
(agro-farming-livestock production) that is not only responsible
for using a frightning amount of it but for also for polluting it
with absolutely no responsibility to clean its mess, years after
year after year after year. 

So I would consider serious measures to limit its availability and
usage and make sure that they clean their mess so that people that
happen to live around them don't end up with polluted wells,
chronic diseases and have no recourse against them. But that's a
broader topic. 
All is connected and when the good of all is considered, we all
benefit, not just the few. 


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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-09-29 21:24:59



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