<
https://news.umich.edu/cutting-animal-based-foods-in-us-diet-by-half-could-prevent-1-6-billion-tons-of-ghg-emissions-by-2030/>
"ANN ARBOR—Replacing half of all animal-based foods in the U.S. diet with
plant-based alternatives could reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions
1.6 billion metric tons by 2030, according to a new study by researchers at the
University of Michigan and Tulane University.
The report, “Implications of Future U.S. Diet Scenarios on Greenhouse Gas
Emissions,” was commissioned by the Center for Biological Diversity, a
nonprofit conservation organization.
It found that replacing half of all animal-based foods (red meat, poultry,
fish/seafood, eggs, dairy and animal-based fats) with plant-based alternatives
would reduce U.S. diet-related emissions by 35%. Based on U.S. Census Bureau
population projections, that would amount to a savings of 224 million metric
tons per year in 2030."
Via Hank G, who wrote:
"Murdoch publications, including Fox News, and right wing internet are already
pushing something about “Biden Climate Change will force you to eat 90% less
meat a year.” It’s bouncing around so fast I felt like proactively addressing
it. First, Biden hasn’t released details yet nor is it reporting some “leaked
report” or something like that. Instead it is holding up a University of
Michigan study, link above, about ways to cut agricultural greenhouse gas
emissions where it mentions scenarios that include cutting back animal food
consumption by 50% and
beef production 90%. Just scenarios. Second,
agriculture only accounts for 10% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Which means
we can do that by cutting emissions in other areas but cutting them in
agriculture is obviously still helpful so worth doing.
What we have here is typical fearmongering around doing absolutely anything
about a critical environmental crisis. Why the right always stands on the wrong
side of history on these issues is beyond me but we have to move past it. When
I was immersed in right wing media back in the late-80s/early-90s they did the
exact same fearmongering around eliminating CFCs. “They” want us to have no
more air conditioning, fridges, hair spray, spray on deodorant, etc. They
conjure up images of living in the Flintstones world or something. Well we did
eliminate CFCs, the Ozone Layer is healing, and they stood by and not only did
nothing about it but actively worked against others doing anything about it
too. It’s the same thing going on here. Don’t fall for it. Yes things will
change. As you’ve witnessed with just a taste of climate change so far, since
it is happening on the fast side of the predictions, things are
going to
change dramatically and out of our ability to correct if we do nothing. It
would have been better if we had been proactive about this 20 years ago. We
didn’t so now we have to make up for lost time. The horrors conjured up by
right wing media though are as silly as the ones they did around dealing with
the Ozone Hole."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
