In this Our Changing Climate video essay, I look at the validity of vegan and plant-based diets as a solution to climate change. I dive into the human and planetary toll of the meat industry, looking at the massive emissions toll of beef production as well as the exploitative conditions in meat processing plants. Ultimately, I consider whether veganism is an effective tool to dismantling the meat industry and mitigating climate change.
Most people will defend strongly against veganism, as we can motice in comments.
I think it is about reduction and that reducing consumption can be enough.
That would also enable us to take better care of those animals and at least make them a nice life until that one really bad day. I am really disgusted by the way we grow animals.
I celebrated my 5th anniversary of being vegan yesterday. I didn’t originally start doing it for climate reasons, but I know the meat and dairy industries are huge sources of pollution so I’m glad I’m on it.
For most people a plant based diet is fine but it isn’t for everyone. There are those with allergies, intolerances, and health conditions that prevent people eating entirely plant based. There’s also people with food sensory issues. One thing we do not need is industrialised animal agricultural.
@Athena5898 there isn’t a single globally applicable answer. It depends.
If you can stop consuming animal products you should. It’s part of all the other solutions like renovations of our building and change our habit about transportation, etc
Continuing to consume animal products with the science we have today is a choice anyone can do but we know the consequences. It’s not up to debate anymore even if it’s not popular.
We can’t deny it anymore. Period.
this is addressed in the video…and actually, meat consumption is down which tells me the person who responded to you didn’t watch the video. (meat consumption is down, but production is not because of capitalism especially huge parts of it like the meat industry is such a huge thing that it just keeps going because of all the top-down things keeping it going. Which is why you can’t fix these things from a consumer-only perspective)
this is addressed in the video…and actually, meat consumption is down which tells me the person who responded to you didn’t watch the video.
To be fair a video is not really a good way to start a debate. It’s impossible to quote. Why not a text version instead?
Also it’s very nearly a pointless debate.
Global meat consumption IS going to increase over the course of the next century. This trend is already happening and it isn’t going to reverse any time soon.
On the horizon of history, perhaps we will be able to lab-grow meat efficiently or there will be some global change of consciousness on the issue, But if we’re relying on veganism to solve climate change, that means we’re not going to solve climate change. The models we build MUST account for the increase in meat production that is going to happen just as surely as they already account for the increases in energy consumption that are going to happen.
I enthusiastically support anyone choosing to themselves go vegan for whatever reason, be it ethical, health, financial, or whatever. It’s clear it is a lower-impact way to live and we should all strive to lessen our impacts. But Betteridge’s Law of Headlines applies here.
I’ll bet when I get to this video in my Nebula queue it is going to say much the same.
Global meat consumption IS going to increase over the course of the next century. This trend is already happening and it isn’t going to reverse any time soon.
No, the yield of crops is slowly collapsing. There are already countries refusing to export their crops.
We will become vegan, by choice or by lack of meat.
I also don’t think veganism can help here, but limited resources and price can.
I work in agriculture, meat just takes too much of our limited resources. There is not enough of arable land and efficiency of land use might increase with gaining knowelage and GMO, but can also decrease because we have to preserve soil (which is currently destroyed) and reduce usage of fertilizers.
For somepeople surely.
But many people must eat meat.
If you can stop then stop. If anyone can’t then we will figure a solution.
Most can but won’t. This is the issue. Not the other way around.
A less divisive goal of reducing your consumption is a good first step to get mental uptake. People are not ready to be told to stop entirely. If we could set a goal to reduce our consumption by 50% that would an awesome start.
I think that we are way past that, but to anyone their opinion. Now please take in consideration the comment I’m replying to and try to understand that the issue is not that some people can’t stop eating animal product, but that most that can won’t. Plain and simple.
We are in the climate magazine. In all place on kbin, here we should be aware of fallacies and on what contribute to climate change. Animal products consumption contributes a lot. It’s time to stop it when you can, not reduce. Let’s the other climate deniers reduce…
Please have more courage than your politicians. Facts are facts.
My room mate with mass cell activation.
Indigenous peoples who have traditional meat based meals.
Indigenous people are not actors of global warming anyway. We are talking about China, USA and Europe, and their providers.