Want to combat climate change and Trump's denialism? Eat less meat

The New York Daily News ^ | September 21, 2017 | Nathan Runkle

[2ndDivisionVet]

A recent survey of 50 Nobel Prize winners found the smartest among us believe that two of the biggest threats to humanity are climate change and President Trump — and we can’t rely on the latter to help us resolve the former. The President’s swift exit from the Paris accord, rollback of key components of the Clean Power Plan and persistent denial of climate change itself (not to mention his own hot temper) make this clear.

People of conscience must tackle this issue ourselves, and one of the single best steps we can take to help fight climate change is to stop eating animals.

Going fully vegan would cut the average American’s carbon footprint in half, but simply cutting back on meat, eggs, and dairy and eating more fruits, veggies, grains, and nuts can make a significant dent. In fact, if every person in the United States ate no meat or cheese just one day a week, that would be like taking every car in the state of New York off the road — or switching every single car in the country from a sedan to a hybrid.

It may seem hard to believe that small actions like swapping chicken for chickpeas could add up to such an enormous impact. But experts agree that without individual action, we’ll never solve climate change or other environmental woes. The United Nations states that “a substantial reduction of (environmental) impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change away from animal products.”

And since we Americans are among the highest consumers of meat, that change should start with us.

The Environmental Protection Agency admits that the U.S. livestock sector is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide pollution and the single largest emitter of methane and nitrous oxide, potent greenhouse gases. Cow flatulence is often blamed, but that’s just the tip of the melting iceberg; producing feed grains, operating factory farms, and storing and shipping meat and other animal products are all carbon-intensive practices.

That’s why producing just one calorie of meat protein for human consumption requires 28 calories of fossil-fuel energy. Meanwhile it takes just 3.3 calories of fossil-fuel energy to produce one calorie of grain protein.

If you’re ready to cut your carbon footprint but are concerned about getting your protein from grain and other plant-based sources, don’t worry. World-class athletes, our country’s top doctors, and a long list of celebrities who never seem to age all credit plant-based diets for their health and longevity.

Countless studies indicate that meat-free or low-meat diets are not just the best for our environment; they’re also the key to good health.

Trump clearly hasn’t figured this out. His heated tirades and sizzling steaks (yes, he once tried selling steaks at Sharper Image) perhaps represent the greatest threats to our already-too-hot planet.

But every day we can use the power of our forks to literally put our outrage where our mouth is and resist Trump’s anti-environment agenda. In a world where resistance can sometimes feel futile, that daily reminder — that we always have a choice — is more than a little empowering.

****

Runkle is the founder and president of Mercy For Animals, an international animal protection organization.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

He looks healthy....(sarcasm)

[monkeybrau]

Please do. As supply increases and demand falls, I get better prices on steak.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Once in awhile when we go to Central Market (HEB’s superior version of Whole Foods) we get a Prime steak as a treat. There really is a difference.

[doorgunner69]

They got their treat when I trimmed things.

You should see the antics when I trim up some fish to get rid of the blood meat. Sell their little souls for that, they would.

[2ndDivisionVet]

My little dogs (a Jack-Chi and a Schnauzer) love Mommy’s “lollipops” (ground beef packaging) whenever she makes something with it.

[Mr. Lucky]

I don't think it's even a bad suggestion

How does a steer, foraging on corn stubble, consume "fossil fuel energy"? And how does the pig which follows the steer and the chicken which follows the pig consume "fossil fuel energy"?

[Blennos]

have been on a super low carb diet for about 6 years now. That means I eat meat, cheese, eggs, green veggies and nuts. So meat is about half my diet. My cholesterol is now lower my Triglycerides are now very low. My blood sugar is very low.

Also 6 years for my wife and I on an LCHF (low carb high fat) diet. Numerous health benefits. Great metabolic markers. Neither of us has been sick in all that time. Recent cardiac calcium score of 0 for me. The carbs in our diets are killing us.

[oldasrocks]

When in line at Wallyworld we notice the ones on Foot Stamps have their carts loaded with expensive beef cuts. I think we should not let meat be purchased with Food Stamps.

[Gene Eric]

NYDN is a depraved rag that prints its contempt for POTUS on the front cover every day.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Yum, more for me. I want to have an enormous footprint.

[Luircin]

That is a well thought-out argument with salient points.

However, the response of a leftie would be, and I quote, “SHUT UP YOU DENIER!”

Having said that, keep making that argument; there’s still generation Z out there and they’re hunting for knowledge.

[TigersEye]

The Paleo Diet is one of the most effective weight loss diets and it has more protein not less. I have always eaten more meat than anything and have always been thin.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Of course, the grain feed part could be solved by eating grass-fed beef, which is more expensive, but apparently provides a better protein.

WE WANT (grass-fed) MEAT!!! WE WANT (grass-fed) MEAT!!!

DOOMAGE!

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[Blennos]

When in line at Wallyworld we notice the ones on Foot Stamps have their carts loaded with expensive beef cuts. I think we should not let meat be purchased with Food Stamps.

I wish our society had never begun the massive implementation of welfare, foodstamps included. The negative benefits far outweigh whatever good it may do. We endured quite well for many years as a country when only private charity cared for the needy.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Start by cutting back on those wonderful grains the author is pimping. They have lectins, which are a plant defense mechanism and therefore mildly poisonous to us. They also have addictive proteins called gliadins, which break down into compounds that interact with the same receptors in our brains that heroin does.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Also, those “wonderful” grains contain easily digestible starches, which spike your blood sugar, causing insulin production that causes the sugar to be stored as fat. So eat lots of “healthy whole grains”, and you too can become a fattie.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Just burned out my Gaydar with an overload of limp wrist.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

☑

[TigersEye]

He looks healthy....(sarcasm)

LOL

He looks like he's about ready to do the Hillary Curb Crash.

[KosmicKitty]

I love vegetables - they go great next to meat on a dinner plate. We’re omnivores. We’ve been blessed with best of both worlds.

Baked potato and fresh slice garden tomatoes next to a perfectly cooked steak. If that isn’t proof God loves us, I don’t know what is. :-)