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The economics of veggie proselytism actually look pretty good. Animal Charity Evaluators found that for every $11 spent in online ads, you could make one perso
by skosch 8y ago
The economics of veggie proselytism actually look pretty good.
Animal Charity Evaluators found that for every $11 spent in online ads, you could make one person go to a website, sign up with their email, and pledge to go vegetarian for a year. The average vegetarian [1] produces 1.5 metric tons less CO2eq per year, so this means that the online ads decrease carbon at a cost of $7.40 per ton. That's cheaper than buying typical carbon offset certificates ($10-$15 per ton).
Maybe it's too optimistic to assume that everyone who makes a pledge on the website actually stays vegetarian for a year, or that they were average-level meat consumers before. Still, animal farming is bad enough that reducing it is probably cost-competitive with other current CO2 reduction approaches.
[1] I'm not sure if their use of "vegetarian" means "completely vegan".
- tnorthcutt 8y agoI don't understand your math. Wouldn't you need to look at the difference in CO2eq between an average non-vegetarian and vegetarian?
- skosch 8y agoSorry, typo – I meant to say less than. Fixed.
- logfromblammo 8y agoIt is too optimistic to assume that anyone who makes a pledge on a website follows through on it for even one day. It's the online equivalent to honking your horn for the protesters holding up signs next to the road. Easily done; easily forgotten.
- lenocinor 8y agoI think the real problem would be induced demand from cheaper prices of meat making up the difference.