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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| IPCC Vegetarian Chief Calls For Vegetarianism To Reduce MMGW |
| 2008-09-07 |
| People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further. His comments are the most controversial advice yet provided by the panel on how individuals can help tackle global warning. Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel's chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems - including habitat destruction - associated with rearing cattle and other animals. It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to changing means of transport, he said. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are generated during the production of animal feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly cows, emit methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide. The agency has also warned that meat consumption is set to double by the middle of the century. 'In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,' said Pachauri. 'Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there,' said the Indian economist, who is a vegetarian. However, he also stressed other changes in lifestyle would help to combat climate change. 'That's what I want to emphasise: we really have to bring about reductions in every sector of the economy.' Pachauri can expect some vociferous responses from the food industry to his advice, though last night he was given unexpected support by Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John Torode, who is about to publish a new book, John Torode's Beef. 'I have a little bit and enjoy it,' said Torode. 'Too much for any person becomes gluttony. But there's a bigger issue here: where [the meat] comes from. If we all bought British and stopped buying imported food we'd save a huge amount of carbon emissions.' Tomorrow, Pachauri will speak at an event hosted by animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming, which has calculated that if the average UK household halved meat consumption that would cut emissions more than if car use was cut in half. The group has called for governments to lead campaigns to reduce meat consumption by 60 per cent by 2020. Campaigners have also pointed out the health benefits of eating less meat. The average person in the UK eats 50g of protein from meat a day, equivalent to a chicken breast and a lamb chop - a relatively low level for rich nations but 25-50 per cent more than World Heath Organisation guidelines. Professor Robert Watson, the chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, who will also speak at tomorrow's event in London, said government could help educate people about the benefits of eating less meat, but it should not 'regulate'. 'Eating less meat would help, there's no question about that, but there are other things,' Watson said. However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for pig industry group BPEX, said the meat industry had been unfairly targeted and was working hard to find out which activities had the biggest environmental impact and reduce those. Some ideas were contradictory, he said - for example, one solution to emissions from livestock was to keep them indoors, but this would damage animal welfare. 'Climate change is a very young science and our view is there are a lot of simplistic solutions being proposed,' he said. Last year a major report into the environmental impact of meat eating by the Food Climate Research Network at Surrey University claimed livestock generated 8 per cent of UK emissions - but eating some meat was good for the planet because some habitats benefited from grazing. It also said vegetarian diets that included lots of milk, butter and cheese would probably not noticeably reduce emissions because dairy cows are a major source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas released through flatulence. Other things he recommends is painting the forehead with caste marks and worshiping Shiva to reduce Man Made Global Warming. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #24 Maybe! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-09-07 23:57 |
| #23 So, 3dc, you're saying Vegetarians - The Other Organic! |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-09-07 21:56 |
| #22 * D *** NG IT, "At least under the former World-conquering USSA = Weak anti-sovereign USR/OWG Global SSR, ORDINARY-MAINSTREAM SOVIET AMERIKAN CITIZENS WERE PERMANENTLY POOR BUT OPTIMISTIC"??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-07 21:41 |
| #21 6 Dr. Rajendra Pachauri is a "strict vegetarian." It's in his biography.. So...the cannibals say civilized man tastes bad with all the meats, tobacco, coffee, medicine and tea in them... hmm. this implies in a meatless world.... he might be tasty..... Its something to keep in the back of ones mind... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-09-07 21:30 |
| #20 So Dr Rajendra Pachaurithe (Indian economist) wants the west to get rid of our cattle to reduce global warming. However I don't see India volunteering to get rid of all their sacred cows to save the world. |
| Posted by: Cromert 2008-09-07 18:46 |
| #19 Rantburg U. in action. There's just no other place like in in the Interwebs. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-09-07 15:59 |
| #18 When I was working at Oak Ridge we had to do a study on Volatile Organic Chemicals in the Office Workplace. 95% of VOC's come from Human Bioefluent Emmisions (burps and farts). BUrps are mostly O2, N2, and a bit of H2 with some H2S. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-09-07 15:54 |
| #17 "I have known a few women who claimed to have done it." In front of you, maybe, Wolfie, but I've never met a woman who would And I've never hung around with prissy women.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-09-07 15:47 |
| #16 Dr. Rajendra Pachauri is a "strict vegetarian." It's in his biography here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajendra_K._Pachauri |
| Posted by: Darrell 2008-09-07 14:53 |
| #15 DB: "pull my finger" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-09-07 14:44 |
| #14 Barbara, it is most definitely a "guy" thing. Although, to be fair, I have known a few women who claimed to have done it. |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2008-09-07 14:13 |
| #13 I'm not even going to ask how you know that, DB. Though I'm pretty sure it's a guy thing.... ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-09-07 13:34 |
| #12 Actually, Methane is a very tiny part of a fart. Farts are mostly sulfur dioxide, CO2, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide (the papermill smell). The sulfur/hydrogen compounds are what burns when a fart is lit. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-09-07 13:30 |
| #11 Since cows emit methane, am I not doing a bigger favor for the planet by eating them? After all, if I were to substitute beans in my chili for the beef, well....wouldn't the methane exuded on this planet be increased? |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields 2008-09-07 13:18 |
| #10 One meat-free day per week. If he allowed for fish to be eaten he could get together with the Pope to start hammering out on the Fish-friday theme again and maybe get a lot of people to follow suit. Further nailing it down [no pun intended] as just another secular religion rather than science. Thou hast sin, obey me to repent thy sin. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-09-07 13:10 |
| #9 I eat vegetarian. Sheep, cattle, deer, elk, antelope.......all vegetarians. |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2008-09-07 13:02 |
| #8 This years' Texas State fair winning food delicacy: chicken fried bacon. http://myturl.com/0pcyj "A fried banana split, a mash of gooey banana and honey peanut butter balls surrounded by chunky fried dough and then smeared in caramel, chocolate and powdered sugar — and ice cream factors in there somewhere — won the most creative prize." Also check out the fried cookie dough. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-09-07 12:56 |
| #7 One meat-free day per week. If he allowed for fish to be eaten he could get together with the Pope to start hammering out on the Fish-friday theme again and maybe get a lot of people to follow suit. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-09-07 12:27 |
| #6 mmmmmmmmm bacon, the candy of meats |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2008-09-07 11:26 |
| #5 "drive to Dennys and get something with bacon" Mmmmmmmm - bacon. BLT for lunch! :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-09-07 11:06 |
| #4 I was going to make the eggs for breakfast until reading this. Its enspired me to drive to Dennys and get something with bacon. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-09-07 10:49 |
| #3 A lot of tartare on your choppers there Deacon. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-09-07 10:31 |
| #2 My cannine teefs not just for fighting wit. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-09-07 10:27 |
| #1 Sorry, I was born a meatatarian and I'll stay that way. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-09-07 10:02 |