To think we should all eat less meat & dairy

[grumiosmum]

... because of the climate crisis (as well as our health)

Important new report out today: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49238749

I’m trying to reduce meat and dairy for environmental reasons. To be honest I need to get better. I find it quite difficult when there’s cheap and delicious dairy options versus more expensive / not so nice dairy free options. I know I should make better choices though.

Personally (and controversially) I would welcome a bit of big government interference with regards climate change. If meat / dairy had an environmental levy on it and dairy free products subsided then I’d be less likely to consume dairy. Ditto with flights - I’d genuinely accept a government restriction on the amount of flights I was allowed to take, whereas I’m too selfish to give up my foreign family holiday knowing that others won’t be.

Culling is not needed considering the rise of people who don't vaccine...

I agree with many pp. Local-ish meat, veg and other goods might be good way to go.

I don't know why almond milk from Californian almonds is considered better than local milk would be. It's a disaster too.

Imported almond milk still has a much lower carbon footprint than locally produced cows' milk.

Handy calculator here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46459714

interesting graphic.

It's not just about carbon footprint. Droughts in California are an issue.

What do you think is causing the droughts? Climate change!

As i stand in my kitchen cooking i can see a field of sheep and of course in the spring they have lambs with them in the field, when i am sat at my dining table i watch the cows in the back field, i am lucky to see, hear and eat beef and lamb/mutton a couple of times a week.
If we all gave up eating meat (never happen) those fields would be overgrown within 2 years, all of the farms surrounding our village would be redundant as would the farmers,the vets would close, the auction market would stand empty, the farm machinery garage would shut and many other businesses would be dead in the water, this would happen through out the country, but hey thats ok the vegan/veggie/ climate change warriors would be happy, well except they will be hungry as we dont have enough arable land in this country to feed the population.

Home grown oat milk has a lower carbon footprint than imported almond milk.
Think globally, act locally.

Not as much as you think. Droughts in there happen regularly, climate change contributed less than 25% to the last one.
It's a combination of normal weather cycles and other things.

And then they have over 80% of world's almond production. That's just mental considering they already have water issues. That isn't sustainable. Like it wouldn't be sustainable to have 80% of cattle in one place.

People should be looking at the whole picture. Carbon footprint, local effects etc.

Anything can be bad if it's too much of it.

Think globally, act locally.

Absolutely!

@grumiosmum you're entitled to your opinion but I'll carry on enjoying meat and dairy products thanks.

Quinoa craze here caused massive rise in use of pesticides. And cost rise in Bolivia. So much so that it was apparently cheaper to buy chicken.

Mind me, I am not saying we shouldn't eat any of these imported things, just that there is more to consider than just carbon footprint.

I stopped eating meat in 1983 and became a vegan over a year ago. I can see lots of benefits to being vegan - I have more energy, a greater sense of calm and wellbeing, no guilt etc. I recommend it. Some people are never going to be vegan, or vegetarians, but they could just give some vegan foods a go. For example, try switching from cow's milk to oat milk for a month or eating vegan foods one day a week. It's up to the individual to do what they want to do though. It is corporations we should be hounding. Food manufacturers could take out some animal products without people even noticing.

Food manufacturers could take out some animal products without people even noticing.

Which ones? Like I wouldn't realise can meat missing from shops as I don't eat it, but when it comes to fresh, I am sure people would certainly notice

Actually low fat yogurts can go too 😁 And skimmed milk

There are plenty of products which contain milk or egg, these can easily be replaced with plant based alternatives.

@mindproject they are on the market. Choice is up to people.
Taking the choice away is not ok imho.

And I hope to god no one touches butter. I hate the veg spreads. Tried few and i can believe it's not butter.

Totally agree OP

I’ve been switching gradually to plant based for the last month - currently still having bit chicken and eggs as not educated enough meal wise yet to swap fully

I’ve switched purely based on health benefits. I had no idea processed meats were scientifically proven grade 1 carcinogenic - that’s the same as bloody fags! Even red meat is grade 2. And the cancer rates in UK/USA vs China etc are staggering!

DH is more into it than me. I can feel a huge switch as ransoms in work are trying it - people I never even thought would attempt it

Fandoms

Argh - randoms

The new Flora vegan spread tastes just like butter to me. I've asked meat eaters and they can't tell the difference either.

It's a personal taste isn't it. I never liked flavour of any of these spreads. Even as a child.

Plus I am not eating palm oil unless I have to. I rather keep with my 1 ingredient British butter.