4 ms·

> I think many still underestimate the effect on climate change of livestock agriculture. We might as well do, but what's the alternative? The less-off people,

> I think many still underestimate the effect on climate change of livestock agriculture. We might as well do, but what's the alternative? The less-off people, the plebs, eating less meat? How would that be fair?

yonaguska 4y ago
That's the WEF playbook. Also, depopulation. Eat the bugs.
jamil7 4y ago
If you're making an argument for the less fortunate surely the effects of climate change will hit them hardest?
- paganel 4y ago
  I hear that paternalistic argument all the time, and almost always coming from the Western countries, but surely food is closer to one's direct needs compared to a climatic thing that might or might not happen according to our models (which models are changing all the time). In other words you don't need much modelling to see that more expensive food will hurt the world's poor here and now, the climate change thing is in the indistinct future (and it might happen the way we prevision it, or it may not).
  - Scarblac 4y ago
    Massive flooding and droughts are here now, climate change isn't a future thing anymore. It will become worse every year, but the disasters are already here.
  - jogjayr 4y ago
    > more expensive food Poor people already eat less meat. On the other hand, climate change will make basic foods more expensive. I'm from India. I've seen the miseries caused when the price of rice or onions goes up. It becomes a major political issue. But if chicken becomes more expensive, no one blinks, because people don't eat that much of it anyway. Maybe some people in the cities grumble because prices at restaurants went up, but that's about it. Your argument is like saying "Taxing Ferraris more will make life harder for poor people because it increases average transportation prices".
Scarblac 4y ago
If you care about that, then just let everyone eat less of it instead? It could be rationed, or made illegal.
jogjayr 4y ago
What's wrong with eating less meat? It's healthier and cheaper. And I'm saying this as someone who loves meat.

yonaguska 4y ago

That's the WEF playbook. Also, depopulation. Eat the bugs.

jamil7 4y ago

If you're making an argument for the less fortunate surely the effects of climate change will hit them hardest?

paganel 4y ago
I hear that paternalistic argument all the time, and almost always coming from the Western countries, but surely food is closer to one's direct needs compared to a climatic thing that might or might not happen according to our models (which models are changing all the time). In other words you don't need much modelling to see that more expensive food will hurt the world's poor here and now, the climate change thing is in the indistinct future (and it might happen the way we prevision it, or it may not).
- Scarblac 4y ago
  Massive flooding and droughts are here now, climate change isn't a future thing anymore. It will become worse every year, but the disasters are already here.
- jogjayr 4y ago
  > more expensive food Poor people already eat less meat. On the other hand, climate change will make basic foods more expensive. I'm from India. I've seen the miseries caused when the price of rice or onions goes up. It becomes a major political issue. But if chicken becomes more expensive, no one blinks, because people don't eat that much of it anyway. Maybe some people in the cities grumble because prices at restaurants went up, but that's about it. Your argument is like saying "Taxing Ferraris more will make life harder for poor people because it increases average transportation prices".

Scarblac 4y ago

If you care about that, then just let everyone eat less of it instead? It could be rationed, or made illegal.

jogjayr 4y ago

What's wrong with eating less meat? It's healthier and cheaper. And I'm saying this as someone who loves meat.