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COP26

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Last Post by Mars 4 years ago

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Mars

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Topic starter 27/10/2021 2:35 pm

I've been inundated with press releases and content about the upcoming COP26 conference, some of which is proving to be interesting to read. I'll post the more interesting bits and pieces here.

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Mars

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Topic starter 27/10/2021 2:36 pm

Vegan campaigning group, Viva!, are disappointed following the recent announcement that the COP26 menu will not be entirely vegan, claiming that more needs to be done to seriously tackle the climate crisis.

As world leaders unite in Glasgow for COP26 to discuss the future of the planet, Viva! are raising awareness of the devastating consequences animal agriculture is having on the environment. Research shows that going vegan is the SINGLE biggest action individuals can take to reduce their impact on the natural world. Carbon emissions cannot be realistically reduced without a national and global reduction in the consumption of animal products. As the climate emergency grows ever more urgent, there has never been a more important time to go vegan. As hosts of the event, we should be setting an example.

Meat accounts for nearly 60 per cent of all greenhouse gases from food production – there is no place for non-vegan food at COP26. This message must be made clear to the public and world leaders.

The COP26 low-carbon menu includes 95 per cent British food and labels each dish with an estimate of its carbon footprint “helping attendees make climate-friendly choices.” Eighty per cent of the menu uses locally sourced Scottish produce, including “smoked salmon, potato, leek and rosemary chowder and a spiced mushroom and onion burger served with a vegan tomato mayo, slaw and shoots.”

Last year Viva! released alarming footage captured at Scottish salmon farms supplying Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, Morrisons and M&S. Their investigation revealed putrid conditions that lead to invasions of parasitic sea lice and pose serious health risks to humans, as well as wild salmon. Regardless of where the COP26 salmon has been sourced, world leaders should not be advocating the consumption of a product that is causing devastating damage to Scottish wildlife and the planet.

COP26 president-designate, Alok Sharma, says menu creation played an important role in COP26, explaining: “It is exciting to see such innovation in the menus that will be on offer and to understand the thought and effort that has gone into making dishes both healthy, sustainable and suitable for different diets and requirements.”

Organisers have provided a sample menu:

Winter squash lasagne (0.7kg CO2 equivalent emissions) – celeriac, glazed root vegetables and winter squash, with a vegan cheddar.

Organic kale and seasonal vegetable pasta (0.3kg CO2 ee) – spelt fusilli, field mushrooms, kale and seasonal vegetables.
Braised turkey meatballs (0.9kg CO2 ee) – with organic spelt penne pasta in a tomato ragu.
Organic spelt wholegrain penne pasta (0.2kg CO2 ee) – with a tomato ragu, kale, pesto and oatmeal crumble.

So near, yet so far. There is no reason whatsoever for harmful animal products to be included on this menu. If world leaders can’t steer clear of meat and dairy for the duration of the world’s biggest climate conference, what hope do we have of them solving the biggest threat our planet has ever faced?

Michael Mansfield QC, Britain's leading criminal defence barrister and Patron of Viva! offers his thoughts on the climate crisis:

“I think when we look at the damage eating meat is doing to the planet it is not preposterous to think that one day it will become illegal. It is time for a new law on ecocide to go alongside genocide and the other crimes against humanity.”

Juliet Gellatley, founder and director of Viva!, explains her involvement in CO26:

“There has never been a more important time to talk about animal agriculture and the devastating impact it is having on our planet. Going vegan is the SINGLE biggest action an individual can take to combat climate chaos. COP26 is a unique opportunity to speak about these critical issues and tell the world to go vegan, now!”

COP26 may be the last opportunity for the world’s leaders to unite and devise a clear plan of action to tackle the climate crisis. Viva!, along with other pro-vegan groups, are campaigning throughout COP26 to ensure animal agriculture is recognised as one of the leading threats to the planet.

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Mars

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Topic starter 27/10/2021 2:39 pm

As a household we've cut consumption of meat to a couple times a week – in my opinion, along with cutting the use of fossil fuel boilers, the reduction of red meat and chicken should be something most households look at.

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Mars

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Topic starter 27/10/2021 2:40 pm

Federation of Master Builders (FMB) on the chancellor's budget:

Despite welcome announcements on funding for skills, business rates and housing, it’s disappointing that the retrofit challenge to make our homes greener and more energy efficient has not been grasped by the Government, just four days ahead of the COP26 conference, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today’s Budget and Spending Review.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “The Chancellor has missed the opportunity to give householders peace of mind about how they can tackle the net zero challenge. With nothing on retrofit for owner occupiers in last week’s Heat and Buildings Strategy, I’m struggling to see how the country will reach its legally binding net zero targets by 2050 if it doesn’t fix the UK’s 29 million leaky homes.”

Berry continued “I do, however, welcome the investment for skills and training confirmed at £3.8bn over this Parliament. Long-term skills shortages are delaying jobs for builders, with 60% reporting paused jobs in the latest FMB membership survey. I’m also glad to see further investment in housing, and warmly welcome the grant funding for local authorities to free-up small brownfield sites for housing given that land availability is the major obstacle to SME house builders. Relief for businesses by reducing the burden of the business rates system will be well received by some firms.”

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Morgan

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28/10/2021 7:45 am

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Mars

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Topic starter 03/11/2021 3:49 pm

The planet is clearly in a lot of trouble with the amount carbon and methane that has been pumped into the atmosphere, compounded by deforestation. Most of the people on the forum here are considering different forms of renewable heating and energy to hep reduce their carbon footprint.

Animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate breakdown, and meat accounts for nearly 60 per cent of all greenhouse gases from food production. Animal agriculture is the leading driver of wildlife loss and releases more greenhouse gases than the entire world’s transport sector combined. That's food for thought.

I'm curious to know if anyone has considered reducing their consumption of meat (beef and chicken in particular) as intensive farming is a massive contributor to emissions we don't need in the atmosphere.

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Kev M

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03/11/2021 9:26 pm

Definitely. As a household we're quite good because wife is a veggie and I join he sometimes. I probably only eat beef once a week at the most now. Some free range pork and lamb but still too much intensively farmed chicken. I need to look at that.

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Mars

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