One way of doing that, clearly, is producing and eating less meat. “I think this is an important opportunity for climate action that sometimes gets overlooked,” said Ripple. “Shifting toward more plant-based diets, especially in countries with high meat consumption, could make a meaningful difference.”
Raising cattle for human consumption is also one of the main drivers of deforestation, which contributes to warming by eliminating carbon sinks. Timothy Searchinger, a senior research scholar at Princeton University who studies the relationship between agriculture and the climate, noted that “we can’t solve climate change unless we stop” such clearing of carbon-rich habitats, “and we probably cannot stop that unless the world’s wealthy eat less meat, and particularly less beef.” (Searchinger was not involved in the report.)
He added, “Just eating 1.5 hamburgers a week on average instead of 3 is one of the basic ways Americans can help address climate change.”
On one hand, yes, eat less meat, compensate by getting better quality and making it a treat.
On the other, let’s maybe do something about the pollution by the 1%
If we can’t do both right now we should do the best we can. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
The worst part about the “personal responsibility” astroturfing is it’s not even technically disinfo, this would actually help if the consumer was the customer. all that land will be cleared and all those cows turned into hamburger if you eat it or not because feeding people isn’t the goal.
They will get your tax money in subsidies and burn fossil fuels to move the food anyway; so it might as well be as calorie dense as possible.
The camel’s back has to break at some point though right? The subsidies can’t cover all the cost of production and shipping, and as stores are pulling in less and less of a return on their purchases of animal products, they’ll buy less from the subsidised farms. Subsidised farms eventually reach a point where even the subsidies aren’t making ends meet, so they have to pull production down.
I’m down to half a kilo of chicken kebab per week and up to a bit over 1 kilo of red lentils a week.
It’s not hard, and lentils and beans are more filling, not to mention 4 times cheaper than meat.
But even just switching beef out with chicken and pork is 3x better CO₂ wise, that’s how bad cow farts are.Its that fucking easy and people still won’t do it lol. Human trash.
I enjoy meat sometimes and a burger maybe once or twice a week. Otherwise rice and beans yo. But Holy shit the people I talk to think to be a MAN you are required to eat meat on every single meal. I hate people.
Give literally just roast vegetables a try, if you haven’t! One of the easiest things you can cook, and so absolutely packed with flavour its somewhat insane.
roast vegetables process for anyone who might be reading this who might not know
Take a random assortment of medium to large vegetables, get them down to roughly similar sizes (about the size of a golf ball if not smaller), a light drizzle of olive oil and a generous sprinkling of salt, and bang those bad boys in the oven at 170-180°c for about 30-40 minutes. Set a timer and forget about em, go watch TV or read a book or whatever. Pull em out and eat as much as you want, its practically impossible to eat an amount that would push you beyond your recommended calorie intake and it is packed full of nutrients. Take care with fibrous vegetables if your diet doesnt typically involve much fibre - pace yourself or your stomach will revolt :P
Rice and beans are great though, and so nice and filling. I really like mujadara, lentils and rice w onions and spices - yum!
