 WWF The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) just released it's Living Planet Index reflecting the overall health of our planet's biodiversity. Since 1970, the global Living Planet Index has fallen by 30%. Before I left my Corporate job in mid 2008 to actively start my environmental work, I researched the climate and environmental data and took vacation time to attend several scientific conferences, including UCLA's 2007 Evolutionary Change in Human Altered Environments, and these Scientists from around the world were already talking about significant species loss. The WWF 30% decline means that on average, species population sizes were 30% smaller in 2007 than in 1970. Specifically, there's a 35% fall for freshwater species, 25% fall for marine species, 24% fall for terrestrial species; a 60% fall for tropical species and a 29% rise for temperate species; and a 50% fall for low-income countries, 25% fall for middle income countries, and a 5% rise for high income countries. The Report also details the Actions we should take, and one of them is to eat less meat. I started Gratitude Gourmet in May 2008 to help evangelize the United Nations data that animal agriculture causes 18% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions which is more than overall transportation, and the importance of eating less meat. I was the only one that I knew of in my circles and in the media actively talking about this issue at the time in the United States. Eating less meat is the low-hanging fruit of helping people reduce their GHG - more than buying a Prius or solar panels. Most people can't afford a Prius and solar panels, but most people can adjust their diets. I also speak on Green IT, and IT emits 2% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. 18% Animal Agriculture vs 2% IT...huge difference in impact. Initially in 2008, when I spoke with people about the animal agriculture and greenhouse gas emission link, most people did not know this data. I spoke at many technology, branding, and entrepreneurial events evangelizing this concept. At a UC Berkeley Energy event, I asked Mary Nichols, the California Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) during her speech Q&A if California was going to address the serious impact of Animal Agriculture emissions. After that question, I had a few Press people talk with me because it was the first time they heard of this data. As a result, the Press started writing articles about this topic. At the Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference where President Bill Clinton spoke on Earth Day 2009, I asked a senior McDonalds official questions during an Agriculture Panel about what his company was doing about the meat-carbon issue. I mentioned the UN data, Bon Appetit Management Company's meat and cheese reduction to reduce GHG emissions, and that UK hospitals are cutting meat to cut carbon. Because of my persistence on the issue, I was asked to speak at this year's 2010 Fortune Brainstorm Green on the Sustainable Agriculture subject but already committed to speaking in the UK about Green IT and Entrepreneurship. The Agriculture Session was held, and the issue of meat and carbon was finally on the radar of more people. I did speak at the Net Impact Conference at Cornell University last Fall '09 on Organic Agriculture and Sustainability, and I co-founded the Green Software Unconference Silicon Valley where I ensured there was only delicious vegetarian and vegan served (probably the 1st of it's kind in the world where a technology conference purposely served low carbon food). Here's an example where a single person can make a difference. Many of my readers have written to me that they are not vegetarian, but they have made changes in their diets and eating practices because of the data Gratitude Gourmet is sharing with the public. One non-vegetarian reader even had a vegetarian Thanksgiving!! Thank you readers and supporters; I really appreciate all the work you're doing! Getting back to the World Wildlife Fund Report, they have also produced a video called a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Planet, and it's below for your reference. Healthy diet for a healthy planet from WWF on Vimeo. Comments are closed.
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