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Do Cows Pollute as Much as Cars?
Mar 17, 2026 8:49 AM

  

Do Cows Pollute as Much as Cars?1

  Cows A group of black and white cows in a pasture in the county of Wiltshire, England. (more) Do Cows Pollute as Much as Cars? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Do-Cows-Pollute-as-Much-as-Cars Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Brian Duignan Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and religion. Brian Duignan Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 19, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Cows are notorious for their emissions of methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas. Cows produce methane through digestion, emitting the gas in burps, flatulence, and waste. In Denmark, for instance, cows have been such prolific methane producers that the government plans to tax their emissions starting in 2030 to curb climate change. Gasoline-powered cars, meanwhile, are major emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2); according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each such vehicle emits about 5 tons (or 4.6 metric tons) of carbon dioxide per year. While methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide—that is, more effective ...(100 of 368 words)

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