Sir, – With the uncomfortable truth surrounding the potential harms of eating meat, as well as the reality of government inaction on climate change both in the public eye this week, what better time to have a serious conversation about the sustainability of meat consumption?
In 2006, the UN’s report on animal agriculture found that transportation exhaust was responsible for 13 per cent of all annual greenhouse gas emissions while livestock and its by-products were responsible for a colossal 51 per cent of the global CO2 emissions.
Yet this didn’t grab the headlines. The horrendous environmental impact of the meat and dairy industry rarely does.
Governments like to be obtuse and tell us that in order to do things like conserve water we should “spend less time in the shower”.
Yet the recent research from Irish Water found the average seven-minute shower uses up to 49 litres of hot water. Studies at Cornell University, among others, have found that eating one hamburger (quarter pound of beef) requires 2,400 litres of water to produce. Perspective!
But industry and government do their best so that we have no idea of the huge number of processes and resources required to deliver that beef burrito or processed ham.
It was emblematic of the vested interests in politics, that when the WHO report on the health risks of eating processed meat was published this week European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan immediately voiced concerns that the WHO report would impact meat sales. It reveals his priorities: sales. Not the health of humans or the planet.
Further, current UN projected figures estimate that emissions for agriculture will increase 80 per cent by 2050, a consequence of China’s booming middle-class and increased demand for meat and dairy.
So it’s time we face the reality of the facts and rethink our relationship with meat. Animal agriculture is the single biggest contributor to climate change and any agreements made at the UN climate conference next month will be nugatory and fruitless, unless us ordinary people start seriously curtailing our unsustainable consumption of meat and animal products. – Yours, etc,
CONOR BOYLE ,
Bloomington ,
Indiana ,
United States.
Sir, – The revelation that processed meat is carcinogenic and may cause bowel cancer will send a shudder through the processed meat industry. Will it mean the demise of the Ulster Fry, the full Irish, the full English, salami, chorizo, the ham sandwich, our so-called national dish of bacon and cabbage, the Christmas ham and many other processed staples and delicacies?
Most of all, the eponymous breakfast-roll man now enjoying a resurgence in the rising economy will be no more.
– Yours, etc,
DEREK Mac HUGH
Foxrock,
Dublin 18.