this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2023
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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.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I guess and hope that those people who can’t eat any plants and rely only on meat are very few. Let’s let all the other stop consuming animal products and we will be in a far better place.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

@Athena5898 there isn't a single globally applicable answer. It depends.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

...i wasn't trying to start a debate, i was trying to share a video. The title of this is the title of the video.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@Athena5898 did that include Asia /China? I can't watch video on slow connection

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It was globally if I recall correctly

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Science is crystal clear on the effect of production of meat on the climate. Not just about methane or co2 but also N2O. The Haber Bosch process is our doom.

Frankly denying any of this today should be put on the "denial" pile and shouldn't warrant too much investigation.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@admiralteal whether we can switch that to lab grown remains to be seen.

@Athena5898

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

"lab grown meat" is an unfunny joke designed to deter us from the real efforts required to be made.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

For somepeople surely.

But many people must eat meat.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

My room mate with mass cell activation.

Indigenous peoples who have traditional meat based meals.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Indigenous people are not actors of global warming anyway. We are talking about China, USA and Europe, and their providers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Agreed. so lets reframe our questions and conversations so that these poeple can participate.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

People are not ready to be told to stop entirely.

Cool, let them enjoy the megafires then. That's the dessert which comes with the main dish of meat.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I would recommend watching the video

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