How Not to Eat the Planet

Climate Emergency Forum discusses the significant impact of food choices on the environment, with insights from Hannah Ritchie's book, "Not the End of the World," and advocates for a shift towards plant-based diets.

This video was recorded on July 10th, 2024, and published on July 28th, 2024, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

Hannah Ritchie’s book is praised for its comprehensive coverage of food production and its environmental implications, highlighting that reducing meat consumption, particularly beef and lamb, can significantly decrease land use and greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the key points discussed is the concept of "peak fertilizer use," where advancements in agricultural technology and practices have led to more efficient use of fertilizers, potentially stabilizing their usage. The conversation also touches on the environmental trade-offs of synthetic fertilizers, which, while boosting crop yields, contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The importance of developing green alternatives to fossil fuel-based fertilizers is underscored as a critical step towards sustainable agriculture.

The dialogue also addresses the broader implications of dietary choices on health and longevity. It is noted that reducing the intake of certain amino acids, such as leucine, which is abundant in animal products, may support longer lifespans. This point aligns with the overall advocacy for plant-based diets, which are presented as not only environmentally beneficial but also conducive to better health outcomes.

Overall, the conversation encourages individuals to make informed and conscious food choices, highlighting that even small changes can collectively lead to significant environmental benefits.

Links:
- Diet for a New America

- Dr. Hannah Ritchie

- Rapid global phaseout of animal agriculture has the potential to stabilize greenhouse gas levels for 30 years and stabilize and offset 68 percent of CO2 emissions this century

- Food and Climate Change: Healthy diets for a healthier planet

- For love of meat: Five trends in China that meat executives must grasp

- A global FAOSTAT reference database of cropland nutrient budgets and nutrient use efficiency (1961–2020): nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium

- How agriculture drones can enhance production

- How Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Are Revolutionizing the Future of Energy Production: A Comprehensive Review of the Latest Developments and Future Prospects

- Living Longer by Reducing Leucine Intake

- Our World in Data

Regular Panelists:
Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

Regina Valdez - Program Director, Climate Reality Project, NYC. GreenFaith Fellow and LEED Green Associate

Video Production:
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

Heidi Brault - Video production and website assistant, Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP team lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum; BA (Psychology); Climate Reality Leader

Our Website:

Attributions:
Background Music:
- Title: Through the City II
- Author: Crowander

[EmmaSolomano]

Thank you for this video. I went vegetarian during my uni studies because I learned of the outsized environment damage caused by the meat industry. It sadly took me a few more years to connect the dots between the dairy and egg industry and rhe environmental and animal harm that I thought I wasn't partaking in. I had ditched plastic straws for the sake of marine life yet still paid for the harm to livestock for food when it was completely unnecessary. Vegan 18 months now and my only regret is I didn’t do it sooner.

[Charlie___]

Why is almost no one talking about ecological overshoot? I had hopes for years things would change before they got this bad. Started looking into overshoot and it made so much sense, it was disheartening and I'll leave it at that.

[markj]

A superb commentary. The best and only commentary on this subject that I've encountered. I've been vegan for over 50 years, and I can say that giving up meat wasn't difficult at all. It's easier to give up meat than it is to give up one's automobile. There is a plethora of foods that are nutritionally-sound substitutes for meat. I will add this, which isn't related to the subject matter of this video: Leaving aside such moral atrocities as genocide, which do eventually end, the greatest moral atrocity being committed in the world is the enslavement, torture and murder of billions of animals, which does not end. Humanity cannot and will not survive that if it continues. Switch to a plant-based diet, humanity, or go extinct, probably within 50 years.

[literalghost]

As long as people aren't talking about overpopulation, and people are flying for tourism, vacations, driving trucks & SUVs, having kids, talking about growing the economy, living a life of consumerism, etc., any talk about eating less or no meat seems moot. Our only chance would be a global effort which isn't happening.

[mecdrum]

Ive been vegan for 10 years and getting healthier more every year .Had Hept C now they can't find it. 72 drumming teaching working on my own cars .No pills no alcohol no drugs .

[taurusgal]

Proud vegan of 7 years. I am out on the impossible burger...too similar tasting to animal meat. Beyond burger is a good burger and does not taste like animal meat. My husband and I are rewilding our yard as well. Thanks for all you do! ❤

[scottyoung]

Informative Forum: I always find it startling that some cattle ranchers are always complaining about the estimated 1, 500 grizzly bears in the lower 48 and then never mention the 85+ million cattle in the lower 48. I’m always trying to reduce my cruelty-footprint. Mass-cruelty, mass-violence, mass-killing, & mass-disease-propagation seem to go hand in hand with the meat, dairy, egg industrial industries. Adult Cattle sell for about $3, 000 and produce about 3, 000 1/4 pound hamburgers, how many gallons of water, electricity, chemicals, hormones, antibiotics & grain to produce those 3, 000 hamburgers ? Loma Linda, California is one of the 6 “Blue Zones”.

[donniemoder]

Water is monetized whether it is bottled or not.

[mvekixo]

we may set a record for minimum ice extent in the arctic this summer. the old ice above greenland is melting fast

[WD-]

Imaginary solutions to imaginary problems. Eat clean, be happy, mind your own business.

[bangelos]

On the personal footprint:

I think the invention was an own goal by BP, because:
Anyone who analyses their personal footprint immediately recognises how large a proportion cannot be directly influenced by personal behaviour.

For me, I have been eating little meat for a long time, which was difficult for me at first,
the most surprising thing was that the largest single item related to my diet was my coffee consumption,
which I have since drastically reduced, which is even more difficult for me than giving up meat.

I keep looking for insects as a source of protein and am always surprised by how expensive these products are.

[veelam]

Thank you so very much for talking about this topic! Too often food is entirely left out in environmental discussions. Abstaining from animal products in our own lives is a hugely impactful thing we ALL can do, and in doing so, the animals, the planet, and our health will all benefit. I've been vegan for 4.5 years and I only wish I had done it sooner!

[JasonChrysostomou]

Terminology is important. Technically, Hannah is talking about switching to a plant-based diet in order to reduce our ecological impact. Others eat a plant-based diet for health reasons. However, this isn't the same as being vegan. Veganism is an ethical belief system rooted in the desire to minimise animal suffering.

[veganradiation]

Peter Carter, props for being vegan! Loving it. Here to promote the vegan cause!

[RichRich]

FYI. Corn ethanol isn't produced as a fuel . It replaces lead in gasoline to reduce knock. Higher compression engines which are more fuel efficient will have the fuel combust before the spark plug fires if the octane isn't high enough so ethanol is a octane booster. Better than having large amounts of lead in the environment. I asked why drag racer cars use methanol. It's because it has a high octane level.

[bill]

Food choices are huge. But also your procreative choices. Having one less child has a much larger impact.

[petrlonsky]

Using syntetic fertilizers is way to hell! In this talk you should more concentrate not only to plant based diet, but more to no-till regenerative farming using intercropping etc... soil is destructed all over the world with "modern" agriculture techniques 🙈🙁 to this video I put no like sign....

[snowflakeca]

“Politicians”

Have the will…

To do 1 thing and “ONE” thing

ONLY.

And that’s:

Self- preservation/ being corrupt.

People MUST be “active” participants in governance and in the products they purchase/ support.

[joseetremblay]

We can cook our veggies burgers ourselves as well.

[richardv.]

They always say I'm enjoying these shows in the wrong way and this is a very serious subject, but I just find Dr Carter's grumpy and desperate character so great. I don't know why he is not a meme. This format of Mon Mothma is talking to Dr Carter is just so great. I'm probably subconsciously avoiding to think about people who are flying to a climate conferences, eating a tons of meat there that is transported through very inefficient channels and then giving nice speeches about the imminent green deal without realizing how impossible it is in the world where they are living.