This is really a symtom of advertisment driven media. You can sell electric cars and solar panels. They tried selling you meat substitutes for a while, but you can't sell just eating less meat 🤷
and unfortunately, heavy subsidies on cattle farming make the meat and dairy substitutes more expensive than what they try to substitute.
When trying to change others perspectives, it's all about phrasing new information in an approachable fashion. For those who've never truly thought of agriculture's impact on the climate, hearing there's a much bigger footprint for it when compared to oil isn't exactly approachable. So first explaining it's larger is the smart move, as only after this is understood does it make sense to cover the extent.
This could just be me though, as a vegan I'm often asked why by others. Explaining the primary reason is the environment alone gets a crazy range of responses, from confusion to disbelief. This being the case, I'd say getting people to accept the climate footprint ranking of each is the logical first step. Especially when breaking this down for someone who's never actually considered the impact of agricultural on our planet!
I’d say getting people to accept the climate footprint ranking of each is the logical first step.
I agree. And the line that I quoted from the article is the opposite of this; it is leading the reader to believe that the "climate footprint ranking" of animal agriculture is lower than that of fossil fuels. Regardless of whether we are trying to change anyone's mind or what we think is the most effective way to do so, providing false or misleading information is something to avoid.
It's depressing. I was reading an article about how plant-based alternatives are failing and there's some kind of meat eating renaissance going on now. I was not aware of this, having reduced my own animal protein consumption over climate concerns and wide-scale industry practices. But even lard and beef tallow are making a comeback after being largely replaced by vegetable oils decades ago. Fuck.
I've been eating a lot less meat since becoming poor. So I'm sure as fuck not going to pay twice as much for a substitute that isn't on point. Though I suppose with beef prices, they might hit parity. Still, I've tried a few veggie burgers over the years because I hang out with the sorts of people who will be grilling those ... and I come away unimpressed.
Hopefully, lab-grown meat can start becoming viable soon. Ranchers and butchers are the only groups that will be harmed by this, with the benefit of reduced emissions of all sorts. Imagine being able to perfect the marbling on a filet mignon and have the ability to make endless copies.
Not surprising there’s not much said about it with how much lobbying Big Ag does and has been doing over the years.
Environmental and ecological discussion, particularly of things like weather and other natural phenomena (especially if they're not breaking news).
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