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People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

blogs.scientificamerican.com

21–30 of 115 posts

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#21
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's like saying recycling is useless because no one recycles. You have to start somewhere

Recycling is useless because the process takes more energy than mining new except for a few select materials. It’s a feel good exercise in wastefulness.

Always recycle aluminum though!

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#22
People don't believe the link between meat consumption and climate change.

It seems like one leftist agenda being used to push another leftist agenda and pretty much anyone who isn't down with leftist agendas tunes right out as this is just too far fetched to even consider.

(Not a heavy meat eater myself but not for planet saving reasons. I just don't like a lot of meat sitting in my stomach. Beans and whole grains and fruits and veggies and occasionally a small piece of meat is much better for me.)

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#23
post #11

Actually, I think you'll find that people just really like the way meat tastes.

I think we should consider a rule that everybody who wants to eat an animal, has to kill it themselves. At least that will solve the mental disconnect between reality and food consumerism.

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#24
post #14
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Correct, I think it would be more effective having this change on a production level where farmers and scientists possibly work together to make meat production more sustainable by for example beter utilizing and extending grass lands in barren regions. Trick is to not make the meat more expensive...

What's needed is a carbon tax. Yes this will make meat (among other things) more expensive, but it is generally offset by the tax savings.

Yea because taxing carbon will magically get rid of it! \o/

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#25
post #23
post #11

Actually, I think you'll find that people just really like the way meat tastes.

I think we should consider a rule that everybody who wants to eat an animal, has to kill it themselves. At least that will solve the mental disconnect between reality and food consumerism.

If there is an app for that, ok. Otherwise I will only eat chicken, since space is limited around here.

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#26
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's like saying recycling is useless because no one recycles. You have to start somewhere

Recycling is useless because the process takes more energy than mining new except for a few select materials. It’s a feel good exercise in wastefulness.

As mined materials start to get more scarce, their prices will rise, and mining companies will have increased power over markets. You can see recycling as a kind of "intertemporal power smoothing", depriving mining companies of future economic power by reducing the rate at which materials are mined. Economic concentration of power imposes tremendous externalities, most of which are felt by ordinary people in the form of price increases and political disenfranchisement due to lobbying and outright corruption.

I am willing to pay an energy premium today in order to avoid that human rights premium in the future. You may not be so willing, but I would urge you to consider that position.

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#27
post #17

Trying to fix climate change as an individual consumer is hopeless.

Yeah it's as hopeless as voting. Do you vote?

More specifically, it's as hopeless as voting in a planet-wide election.

So until we have the latter, or a forum with enough authority to have the effect of the latter, voting isn't a valid comparison.

Which is a shame as voting is actually quite effective sometimes.

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#29
post #11

Actually, I think you'll find that people just really like the way meat tastes.

It's more than that. People are very attached to their food choices, they put a lot of personal stock in what they eat. Food is an essential, ancient part of culture and society. You not only have to convince people to get over the taste, but you also have to convince people to get over the cultural importance of meat-based foods. Not so hard and some families, but probably serious challenge and many others. "Thanksg…

The ones you mentioned are sporadic, celebtratory meals though; the main meat consumption is still the day-to-day stuff. Chicken sandwiches and such.

Re: People Don't Get the Link Between Meat Consumption and Climate Change (2016)

#30
Meat is cheap. AND it's not up to individuals to make the broad policy changes needed to affect climate change. That's done by governments. People will follow suit. If there's a tax on meat, less meat will be eaten. To put the onus on individuals to make policy decisions is preposterous.
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