SUPER SIZE ME (U.S.A.)

If everyone in the world ate like the average American, the Global Footprint Network estimates that we would need 4.1 planet earths – unfortunately, we only have one. 

Global meat production is highest in China, EU and the USA. Of the three, the US is highlighted as having the highest meat demand among the rich countries as identified in a previous post on worldwide production and consumption compared according to the Business Insider. Consequently, we will be focusing on the US in the current post leaving the remaining countries in the following posts.

This week I watched a video called 'Meat the Truth' based on the contribution of the livestock industry on greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights how citizens are not often aware of the main contributor to global warming mostly thinking that it lies in the transport sector. Their reactions after finding out that livestock production is the biggest contributor is extremely invaluable in understanding that there is much more to be done in educating the world on the facts of global warming. (18% of global warming is from the livestock sector, whilst 13% is from thetransport sector.) Although, we cannot fully put consumers at fault, since "livestock's impact is not well understood by the public, or even thefarmers themselves" quoted by FAO. 

What I found most interesting in the video was Howard Lyman who illustrated exactly that.  He was a farm owner who did not fully understand his responsibility and contributions to global warming. But when he did, he closed down his farm and became vegan. This goes to show just how consequential and significant it is, for one to be educated in this sector and for them to realise that they have the power to turn it around. Furthermore, the video neatly portrays how cutting down meat consumption can make a remarkable impact through easily digestible analogies. 

This talk was presented in America with the data used being interviews of the American people. Thus, a lot of the information is reared towards the American diets and opinions. Nonetheless, it is extremely interesting to watch. I won't delay you any more, enjoy!

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After watching the video, we may all be feeling kind of guilty for the burger meal we just consumed for lunch... well, on the bright side, here are some facts that suggest the livestock sector is not as bad or exaggerated as it seems in the video, and perhaps there are a few positive changes in consumption habits since the video has been made.

Cattle inventory:

As shown above, cattle inventory in America is reducing slowly and this is a good sign. In addition, as illustrated in the graph below, that despite a steep inclination leading up to 2012, we can see that there is a definite decline in meat consumption recently. Thus, again, we may see this positively.

Total meat consumption in USA

This reduction in meat consumption could be as a result of consumers becoming more health conscious, but it could also just be because of stagnant population and income growth. Despite the reason, a slight reduction is definitely a good sign. Having seen some evidence of a turn in the American consumption habits, the picture gets a bit blurry at this point, when we discuss the changes in different meats consumed;

Although we can see that the consumption of beef is declining, the consumption of other meats is increasing. Having been a very loyal reader of my blog (I'm sure you are), you may notice that cows seem to be contributing to global warming more so than other animals; nonetheless, the increase in other meats being consumed means this could reach an equilibrium in which a reduction in one area and an increase in another will simply balance out.

This highlights that although the video is quite hard on the view that Americans need to immediately change their diets by precisely pinpointing why we should be reducing our meat consumption, the graphs above is indicative that perhaps America has been slowly putting some efforts towards this.

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If you didn't get a chance to watch the video, this is the main thing I would want you to take from it:

If all Americans ate vegetarian for:

7 days a week, they would save around 700 megatonnes of greenhouse gases emissions, which is equivalent to taking every single car off the roads in America.

6 days a week, that is equivalent to eliminating the total electricity use of all households in the States.

5 days a week, that is equivalent to planting 13 billion trees in your garden and letting them grow for 10 years

4 days a week, carbon savings halving electric use of electricity gas oil petroleum and karosene

3 days a week, almost 300 mega tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - more impact than replacing all cars in US with hybrid ones.

2 days a week, same positive effect as reducing greenhouse gases as replacing all household appliances with energy efficient ones

1 day a week, 90 million plane tickets from New York to LA and vice versa


So, is your meatless day just Monday/one day? If you came from being no meatless day to one meatless day, I'm already very, very proud of you.

Happy Meatless Monday! Tune in next Monday for a new post on the consumption patterns of China!