How can we curb the emission of greenhouse gases? Get rid of a
bunch of camels, apparently. Via Physorg: Australia is
considering awarding carbon credits for killing feral camels as
a way to tackle climate change. The suggestion is included in
Canberra’s “Carbon Farming Initiative”, a consultation paper by
the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, seen
Thursday. Adelaide-based Northwest Carbon, a commercial company,
proposed culling some 1.2 million wild camels that roam the
Outback, the legacy of herds introduced to help early settlers
in the 19th century. Considered a pest due to the damage they do
to vegetation, a camel produces, on average, a methane
equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide a year, making them
collectively one of Australia’s major emitters of greenhouse
gases. In its plan, Northwest said it would shoot them from
helicopters or muster them and send them to an abattoir for
either human or pet consumption.