Dr. Lučka Kajfež-Bogataj: Concern for the environment goes through the stomach!

Finally, recognition of vegetarianism as an effective way to influence climate change has reached the secondary level of the IPCC

After the incredible statement of Dr Rajendra Pachauri, the re-elected president of the IPCC, that only global vegetarianism can rescue the climate, this insight slowly seeps into the lower levels of decision making structures of the IPCC (probably influenced by the worldwide crash of the financial market and the threatening lack of finance to implement further "technical" measures for climate stabilisation).

27 October 2008

In today's edition of the Slovenian Newspaper Večer, the wellknown Slovenian climatologist Dr Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, WG2-Vicepresident of the IPCC, announced the following:

»[...] The study of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN supplied many facts about the contribution of animal farming towards climate change. For example, mass meat production is responsible for 90% of the destruction of tropical forests. It is a terrible reality that every two seconds a forest the size of a football field is being destroyed in order to pasture animals or to grow soya beans for animal feed. Fifty square metres of tropical rain forest are cut down for one hamburger.

In the last 30 years, the global consumption of meat, milk and eggs has increased five-fold. The average person in a developing country in 1970 consumed only 10 kg of meat per year; today it is 30 kg. In the industrial nations, the amount went from 65 kg to 80 kg. Intensive animal farming uses 17 times more fertile ground, 14 times more water and 10 times the energy as compared to the farming of vegetables. Another very insightful comparison is this one: The production of 1 kg beef affects our climate as much as a 250 km drive with the car. [...]

If we truly wish to demonstrate our willingness to change our behaviour in favour of the environment and our climate, it is not enough to practice behind the steering wheel, to turn down the thermostats and to install solar systems. We also need to start with the food on our plates.«

Source: Dr. Lučka Kajfež-Bogataj: Skrb za okolje skozi želodec!

Link: China Tells Rich Polluting Nations To Change Lifestyle
Link: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)